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INDEX  ARMORIAL 


EMBLAZONED    MANUSCRIPT    OF    THE    SURNAME    OF 

FRENCH,   FRANC,   FRANCOIS,   FRENE 

AND   OTHERS,  BOTH   BRITISH 

AND   FOREIGN, 


BY 


A.  D.  WELD  FRENCH 


BOSTON  : 

PRIVATELY    PRINTED. 

1892. 


TWO    HUNDRED    COPIES    PRIVATELY    PRINTED,    OF    WHICH    THIS 

IS    NUMBER 


/5X 


T.  R.  Marvin  &  Son,  Printers. 
73  Federal  St.,  Boston. 


GIFT 


fnfn 


INDEX  ARMORIAL 


PREFACE. 


The  surname  of  French,  so  identified  with  France, 
which  affords  considerable  historical  information  in 
regard  to  the  origin  and  change  in  its  name. 

The  modern  France,  under  the  Romans,  was  called 
Gallia  or  Gaul,  and  became  Francia,  or  more  strictly 
speaking,  Francia  Occidentalis  or  Latina,  the  land  of 
the  Salien  Francs,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fifth  century, 
A.D.,  when  these  Franci  or  Francs  had  permanently  set- 
tled there  as  rulers  under  King  Chlodowig  or  Clovis  of 
the  Merovingian  dynasty.  In  his  reign  Salic  law  was 
introduced  into  France,  by  which  royal  lands  were 
made  the  reward  of  military  service,  so  that  possession 
under  this  law  was  in  itself  a  title  to  nobility,  and  those 
holding  Salic  land  were  consequently  Francs,  the  only 
freemen  in  the  country. 


805 


4  PREFACE, 

These  Franci  or  Francs  were  originally  a  confederacy 
of  German  tribes  of  the  lower  Rhine,  "  who  were  first 
mentioned  in  the  year  241  A.D.  by  Roman  soldiers, 
unless  we  give  to  Peutinger's  Itinerary  an  earlier  date 
than  is  probable  ;  these  u  soldiers  of  Aurelian  had  pre- 
viously been  on  the  north  German  frontier,  and  as  they 
marched  out  of  Rome  on  their  way  to  the  Persian  war, 
they  sang  ( Vopiscus  in  Aureliano)  a  rough  barrack 
song: 

"  Mille  Sarmatas,  mille  Francos,  semel  et  semel  occidimus  ; 
"  Mille,  mille,  mille,  mille,  mille  Persas  quaerimus." 

"  Francus  habet  nomen  a  feritate  sua,"  says  Ermol- 
dus  Nigellus ;  "  and  the  word  carries  the  sense  of 
boldness,  defiance,  freedom."  And  as  it  did  not  lend 
itself  well  to  Latin  verse-endings,  and  as  its  origin  was 
late,  we  find  the  silver  and  leaden  poets  delighting  to 
call  the  Francs,  Sicambri,  as  in  the  famous  speech  of 
St.  Remi,  Archbishop  of  Rheims,  in  A.D.  496,  when 
he  baptized  Chlodowig,  and  addressed  him  in  these 
words:  "Depone  mitis  colla,  Sicamber,  etc.,"  or  per- 
haps more  presentable  in  its  English  translation  : 
"  Bow  down  thy  neck,  O  Sicambrian,  and  pray  to  that 
which  thou  didst  burn,  and  burn  that  to  which  thou 
didst  formerly  pray." 

"These  are  sufficient  reasons  to  account  for  the 
silence  of  Caesar,  Tacitus  and  Ptolemy  as  regards 
these  Francs,  though  they  speak  of  other  tribes  which 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  5 

occupied  the  same  districts  in  which  afterwards  we  find 
the  Francs." 

The  name  seems  to  have  been  adopted  by  certain 
Germanic  tribes  which  had  leagued  together  to  fight 
for  freedom ;  hence  the  name  of  Franc  as  applied  to 
France,  in  its  social  condition  implied  the  free,  as  in  its 
national  signification  it  indicated  the  people. 

Passing  from  the  early  history  of  the  name  associa- 
ted with  a  people  and  a  country,  we  come  to  its  appli- 
cation as  an  individual  and  family  name. 

It  appears  in  old  high  German  as  Franco,  in  its  Latin 
forms  of  Francus,  Francensis  and  Franciscus,  and  in 
the  dialect  of  Francia  as  Franc.  These  early  examples 
in  different  languages,  with  the  variations  of  Francigena, 
Francesius,  Francon,  Francesis,  Francois,  Francais, 
Franceis,  Fraunceys,  Fraunces,  Fraunck,  and  Franx 
are  the  principal  illustrations  found  among  the  ancient 
archives ;  and  at  the  period  of  anglicization  in  Great 
Britain,  from  many  of  these,  the  surname  of  French 
had  its  origin. 

As  regards  the  period  when  surnames  came  into  ex- 
istence, the  statement  of  a  well-known  antiquary  of  the 
past,  will  probably  meet  the  approval  of  those  more 
modern  : 

"In  the  reign  of  Hugh  Capet,  at  the  end  of  the 
tenth  century,  surnames  began  to  be  used  in  France  ; 
in  England,  at  the  Conquest." 

"  In  Scotland  such  names  began  to  exist,  as  appears 
by  the  ■  Inquisitio  David,  Principis  Cumbrensis,'  in  the 


6  PREFACE. 

early  part  of  the  twelfth  century."  But  it  was  many 
years  before  surnames  came  into  general  use  in  Great 
Britain. 

An  ancient  instance  in  Normandy  was  that  of  Franc 
or  Franco,  Archbishop  of  Rouen,  who  arranged  the 
conference  of  St.  Clair-sur-Epte,  in  the  year  912,  be- 
tween the  Norman  Hrolfr,  or  Rollo,  the  First  Duke  of 
Normandy,  and  Charles  the  Simple,  King  of  France. 
In  the  following  century  are  found,  in  French  records, 
the  names  of  Hugo  Franco  and  Gualterius  Francus. 

According  to  Guillaume  de  Tyr  and  Albert  d'Aix, 
"  the  Chevalier  Francon  distinguished  himself  in  the 
First  Crusade,  at  the  siege  of  Antioch,  in  1098  ;  he 
was  among  the  company  of  Crusaders  belonging  to 
the  army  of  Lorraine,  under  the  command  of  Godefroi 
(de  Bouillon)  the  Duke  of  that  province,  and  he  be- 
longed to  the  town  of  Mechel,  on  the  river  Meuse, 
During  the  darkness  of  night  some  Turks  scaled  the 
wall  of  a  remote  and  undefended  tower  in  the  hilly 
portion  of  the  city  of  Antioch  ;  but  a  passer-by  gave 
the  alarm,  which  promptly  brought  to  its  rescue  Henry 
de  Hache  with  the  young  and  brave  chevaliers  Francon 
and  Siegmar,  and  in  the  encounter  the  Turks  were  an- 
nihilated, at  the  cost  of  the  lives  of  these  brave  cheva- 
liers. Siegmar  was  killed  defending  his  kinsman  and 
fellow-townsman,  the  Chevalier  Francon,  who  had 
fought   valiantly,  but  had  received  a  mortal  wound." 

Normandy  shows  many  of  the  name,  and  in  this  re- 
spect the  Cotentin  is  particularly  interesting.     Henry, 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  7 

the  son  of  William  the  Conqueror,  had  the  title  of  Earl 
of  this  district,  and  from  it  came  many  of  the  com- 
panions of  the  Conqueror,  some  of  them  identified 
historically  with  the  more  northern  counties  of  England. 
Among  these  hereafter  mentioned,  particularly  associa- 
ted with  these  surnames,  were  the  Albenceios,  Bruces, 
Foliots  and  the  Valoines. 

The  early  Norman  rolls,  relating  to  the  Cotentin, 
show  in  the  years  1180  and  1195,  two  of  the  surname 
of  Franceis  ;  in  the  first  roll,  that  of  Willielmus  Franceis, 
in  the  roll  of  1195,  Rogerus  de  Franceis.  The  name, 
as  well,  is  found  in  other  districts  of  this  province ;  in 
the  Bailiwick  of  the  Bessin,  in  1198,  Willielmus  Le 
Franceis  and  Osmo  Lafranceise  ;  Bailiwick  of  Caen,  in 
1 198,  Matthew  Le  Franc,  Hub't  de  La  Franche, 
Ricardus,  Willielmus  and  Arnoldus  Le  Franc,  and  in 
the  year  1 1 95  among  the  contributors  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  city  of  Caen,  towards  the  ransom  of  Richard 
Coeur  de  Lion,  were  Franco  and  Franconi.  In  the  list 
of  the  crown  debtors  of  the  Bailiwick  of  the  Oximin, 
for  the  year  1198,  appear  the  names  of  Robertus  and 
Johannes  Le  Franc.  The  Exchequer  roll  of  the  Bailiwick 
of  Pont  Audemer  has,  in  the  year  1 198,  a  Willielmus  Le 
Franceis,  and  in  the  year  1203,  Willielmus  Francus.  In 
this  last  named  year  the  name  of  Walter  Le  Franceis  is 
found  in  the  following  record  : 

"After  the  murder  of  Prince  Arthur  and  the  defec- 
tion of  Comte  Robert  of  Sees,  William  de  Fougeres, 
Juhel  de  Mayenne,  and  other  Britons,  were  among  the 


8  PREFACE. 

first  to  declare  themselves  in  opposition  to  King  John, 
who  thereupon  issued  his  writ  to  the  Seneschal  of 
Normandy,  dated  at  Sees,  27  Jan.  1203,  command- 
ing him  to  cause  Walter  Le  Franceis  (Francigena) 
to  have,  without  delay,  Hudimersnil  with  all  its  appur- 
tenances and  chattels,  which  was  belonging  to  William 
de  Fougeres,  who  is  against  us  with  Comte  Robert  of 
Sees." 

Galterus  Franceis,  in  the  year  12 10,  held  in  Nor- 
mandy, under  King  Philip  the  Second,  of  France,  one- 
third  of  a  knight's  fee  at  Cleville. 

Among  those  present  at  the  assizes  of  Caen  in  1245, 
was  Henricus  Francois. 

John  le  Franc  is  mentioned  in  a  confirmation  charter 
of  King  Louis,  in  1257,  to  a  charter  of  Johannes 
Goceselin,  burgess  of  Pont  Arche,  granting  certain 
rights  to  Beate  Marie  de  Bonupartu  (Bonport)  among 
which  was  some  meadow  land  at  Sotevillam,  on  one 
side  of  which  was  the  meadow  of  John  le  Franc. 

In  1277  among  the  gifts  to  the  monastery  of  Savei- 
gneio  was  one  from  John  Le  Franc,  at  Mathonem  in  the 
Bailiwick  of  Caen. 

At  Paris,  in  the  year  1278,  King  Philip  the  Third  gives 
to  the  Chapter  of  Bayeux  land  in  several  places, — that 
of  William  le  Francheis  in  Baiocas,  in  the  Bailiwick  of 
Caen,  at  a  yearly  rental. 

"The  King  to  all  people,  etc.  Know  that  we  have 
given  and  granted  to  our  diligent  Lord  William  Fraun- 
ceys,  Esquire,  for  his  faithful  services,  the  castle  and 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  g 

houses  of  Clinchamp,  in  the  Earldom  of  Perche,  which 
lately  belonged  to  Baldevini  de  Tuny,  knight,  together 
with  all  land,  possessions,  rents,  profit,  forfeiture,  and 
all  other  advantages  belonging  to  the  said  castle,  and 
after  him  the  said  castle  and  houses,  together  with 
all  the  said  advantages,  are  granted  to  the  male  heirs 
of  his  body.  For  this  he  shall  annually  give  a  sword, 
at  the  feast  of  Saint  George,  at  the  Castle  of  Caen  ;  and 
the  said  William,  and  his  heirs,  must  always,  at  their 
own  cost,  be  ready  for  service  in  time  of  war,  and  keep 
sufficient  provisions  in  the  castle  for  the  soldiers. 
Given  at  Villa  de  Bernay,  the  first  day  of  June,  1418, 
by  the  King  himself." 

In  the  description  of  the  grant  in  a  charter  dated  at 
Pont  Arche  the  1st  day  of  July,  141 8,  the  king  gives  to 
Lord  Thomas  Andrew,  for  his  lifetime,  the  villa  of 
Harefleu,  which  belonged  to  Johannes  Lefrie,  the  rebel, 
on  one  side  of  which  was  the  hospicium  of  Radulphus 
de  France. 

Mahiet  Le  Franchoys  had  conferred  upon  him, 
in  the  year  14 19,  the  sergeantry  of  the  wood,  in 
the  forest  of  Yang,  on  account  of  his  guardianship 
of  Belencombe,  election  of  d'Arques,  vacant  by  the 
death  of  William  Le  Franchoys. 

The  parish  of  Canon,  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Castle 
of  Falaise,  is  placed  under  the  protection  of  Galfridus 
Le  Franceys,  Esquire,  by  order  of  the  King,  dated  at 
"  the  royal  Castle  of  Dalenson,  in  the  royal  Dukedom 
Normandy,"  28  October,  1417-22. 


IO  PREFACE. 

Guillaume  Franceys  received  from  King  Henry  V,  of 
England,  the  land  of  Clynchamp,  upon  the  condition 
that  he  gave  a  sword,  annually,  at  the  feast  of  St. 
George,  at  Caen. 

Besides  these  rolls  additional  information  is  gathered 
from  the  cartulaires  of  certain  abbeys  of  Normandy,1 
viz : 

Abb  aye  de  Saint- Jean-de-Falaise  in  the  Diocese  de 
Seez,  founded  in  the  year  1127.  Robert  de  France  and 
his  wife  Alix,  daughter  of  Onfroy  Le  Chat,  granted  to 
Hamon  d'Aneis  the  ruins  and  the  mansion  which  are 
situated  between  the  house  of  Samson  Le  Gagneur  and 
that  of  the  said  Hamon.     Without  date. 

Alverede  de  Vesqueville  and  his  wife  Beatrix  La 
Francaise,  in  125  1,  make  a  donation  to  the  abbey  of 
Falaise.  Pierre  de  Pont-d'Ouilly,  son  of  Pierre, 
Burgess  of  Falaise,  granted  the  abbey  of  this  town  all 
the  privileges  he  had  in  the  fief,  which  Mathilda  La 
Francaise  held  of  him. 

William  de  France  and  Jean  Le  Commun  discovered, 
in  137 1,  a  mistake  in  their  account  with  the  abbey  of 
Saint-Jean-de-Falaise  in  regard  to  a  house  at  Guibray, 
near  the  cemetery  of  FHotel-Dieu. 

Some  acts  in  regard  to  fiefs,  given  at  Guibray  by  the 
Abbey  of  Falaise,  from  1410  to  141 7,  to  Jean  Le  Jour, 
Jean  Le  Roy,  Henri  Montcocq,  Raoul  Le  Moine, 
Jeanne,  widow  of  Jean  Lanion,  and  to  Pierre  de 
France. 

1  No  complete  examination  has  been  made. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  1 1 

Abbaye  a"  Ardennes,  Diocese  de  Bayeux.  Petronille 
La  Francaise,  daughter  of  Foulques  Le  Francais, 
grants  to  Ardennes,  1271,  a  rental  to  be  taken  at  He- 
rouville. 

Robert  de  Trun,  clerk,  of  Saint-Nicholas  of  Caen, 
with  consent  of  his  wife  Egydie,  granted  to  William  Le 
Francois  the  homage  which  Jean  de  Guernon  had  given 
the  said  Egydie,  his  wife,  for  a  house,  situated  at 
Mathieu. 

The  above  charter  of  the  year  1290  was  granted  before 
the  proper  authorities  of  the  parish  of  Mathone.  The 
seal  of  Robert  de  Trun  is  attached  to  it. 

Prieure  de  Sainte-Barbe  {en  Auge),  Diocese  de 
Lisieux.  The  rental  at  Ouville,  which  was  given  to 
Sainte-Barbe,  in  1290,  by  Raoul  Le  France,  was  con- 
firmed by  Troe,  his  wife. 

Richard  Le  Francois,  of  Quetieville,  Esquire,  granted 
to  Sainte-Barbe,  in  1277,  a  rent  for  the  service  of  the 
sacristy  of  the  priory. 

Richard  Le  Francois,  Esquire,  resigns  to  Sainte- 
Barbe,  in  1283,  the  rights  which  he  had  to  the  field  of 
Perche,  situated  in  Quetieville,  which  Geoffroy  Grente 
held  of  the  monks  of  Sainte-Barbe. 

Abbaye  de  Barberie  011  Berberie,  Diocese  de  Bayeux. 
Roger  Le  Francois  gives  to  the  abbey  of  Berberie, 
in  1250,  a  piece  of  land  at  Vieux-Frene. 

Evech'e  et  Chapitre  de  Bayeux.  Richard,  called  Le 
Francois,  clerk,  and  son  of  William  Le  Francois  of 
Bayeux,  granted,  in  1243,  to  William  Guerest,  a  piece 


12  PREFACE. 

of  land  in  the  parish  of  Saint- Laurent-de-Bayeux  for  the 
service  of  homage,  and  other  considerations. 

William  Le  Francheis,  or  Le  Francois,  gives  in  1257, 
to  the  Chapter  a  yearly  rent  for  the  repose  of  the  soul 
of  Robert  Le  Gamp,  Prebendary  of  Bayeux. 

Nicolas,  called  Le  Francois,  son  of  William  Le  Fran- 
cois, of  Bayeux,  granted  in  1270,  to  the  Chapter,  a 
yearly  rental,  and  other  considerations,  for  the  repose 
of  the  soul  of  Richard  de  Clermont,  formerly  the  Pre- 
bendary of  Bayeux. 

Abbaye  de  Saint- Pierre- sur- Dives,  Diocese  de  Sees. 
William,  called  Francois,  son  of  Richard  Le  Francois, 
gave,  in  125 1,  to  the  alms  of  Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives  a 
yearly  rent,  which  GeofTroy  d'Aunon,  son  of  Herve 
d'Aunon,  owed  him. 

Richard  Le  Francois,  of  the  parish  of  Boissey, 
acknowledged  before  the  Viscount  of  Falaise,  in  138 1, 
that  he  owed  the  monks  of  Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives  a 
certain  rent,  yearly,  for  the  possession  of  the  meadow, 
which  is  called  the  Bissons,  in  the  grand  meadow, 
situated  at  Boissey. 

Prieure  du  Plessis-  Grimould,  Diocese  de  Bayeux. — 
The  parish  of  Montchavet.  Robert  de  Beaumont, 
Count  of  Leicestre,  gave  to  the  priory  of  Plessis- 
Grimould,  the  church  of  Saint-Samson-de-Montchavet, 
with  all  the  rights  attached  to  the  church  of  Saint- 
Evroult.  This  charter  without  date,  probably  twelfth 
century,  not  later  than  1206,  is  witnessed  by  Nicolas 
de  Gloz,  Philip  d'Aubigne,  Guillaume  Chapelain,  Andre 


INDEX  ARMORIAL,  1 3 

d'Ocannes,  Lucas,  clerk,  Gautier  Le  Francais  and  others. 

Abbaye  de  Troarn,  Diocese  de  Bayeux.  Confirmation 
of  its  foundation  in  the  year  1068. 

Agnes,  the  wife  of  Michel  Le  Francois,  gave,  with 
the  consent  of  her  husband,  to  the  abbey  of  Troarn,  all 
that  she  possessed  in  and  near  that  town. 

Michel  Le  Francois  confirms  by  another  charter,  with- 
out date,  the  preceding  donation. 

Walter,  Abbot  of  Saint-Jean-de-Falaise,  and  the 
canons  of  the  said  place,  make  an  agreement  with 
the  abbey  of  Troarn,  in  regard  to  the  donations  which 
were  made  to  the  last  mentioned  abbey  by  Agnes,  wife 
of  Michel  Le  Francois. 

Abbaye  de  Sainte-Trinite-de-  Caen.  William,  the 
Prior,  and  the  prebendaries  of  the  church  of  Saint-Jean- 
TEvangeliste,  of  Legh,  passed  an  act,  in  the  year  1227, 
agreeing  to  give  a  yearly  rental  to  Madame  Jeaune, 
Abbess  of  Sainte-Trinite-de-Caen,  for  some  pieces  of 
land,  situated  at  Felsted,  which  she  had  ceded  to  the 
said  priory.  This  act  was  given  in  presence  of  Hugues 
de  Gybesworth,  Henry  de  Kemeselt,  Robert  de  Welles, 
Jean,  son  of  Nicholas,  Henry  de  Beauchamp,  Richard 
Forestier,  Roger  de  Ranlingherst,  Richard  de  Plessis, 
GeofTroy  de  Flamundshey,  Jehan  de  Horsted,  Thomas, 
son  of  Osbert,  Guillaume  Mortin,  Robert  Langlois, 
Guillaume  Le  Francois,  Adam  Glainville,  Raoul  le 
jeune,  and  others. 

Abbaye  de  Villers-Canivet,  Diocese  de  Sees.  Raoul 
Le  Francois  granted,  in  1258,  to  the  Abbey  of  Sainte- 


14  PREFACE. 

Marie-de-Villers,  a  piece  of  land  and  rental  to  be  taken 
at  Lessart. 

Abbaye  d'  Ardennes,  Diocese  of  Bayeux.  Mathilde, 
called  Francaise,  gives,  in  1252,  to  Stephanie,  daughter 
of  Robert  Poutrel,  a  yearly  rental  to  be  taken  from  the 
parish  of  Fay. 

The  earliest  instances,  thus  far  discovered  in  Great 
Britain,  are  recorded  in  the  Domesday  Survey,  among 
which  is  a  certain  Franco,  a  Fidelis  of  Robert  de  Albe- 
marle, who  is  called,  in  the  Dives  Roll,  Robert 
d'Aumale ;  but  Monsieur  Magny,  in  his  list,  gives  him 
the  title  of  Comte.  He  was  among  the  companions  of 
William,  Duke  of  Normandy,  at  the  conquest  of  Eng- 
land, holding  Mideltone  and  many  other  manors  in 
County  Devon  as  tenant  in  capite  under  King  William, 
as  Franco  held  Teweberie  under  Robert  de  Albemarle. 

The  sheriff  of  this  same  county,  in  the  year  1 167-8, 
appears  to  have  been  Robert  Franceis,  and  in  the  same 
year  you  find  in  Berkshire,  Willielmus  Francesius. 

A  clerical  member  of  the  name  appears  in  the 
Domesday  Survey,  in  the  one-hundredth  of  Derinlau, 
Shropshire,  where  is  found  Franco,  the  Priest,  who  had 
as  his  Lord  the  Bishop  of  Hereford. 

In  Yorkshire  there  are  several  entries  in  the  Domes- 
day Survey  of  a  certain  Franco,  who  held  in  Catefos, 
Biletone,  Meretone,  and  Risun,  all  in  the  Wapentake 
of  Gerlestre,  as  tenant  in  capite  under  Drogo  de 
Bevrere,  (La  Beuvriere  in  the  arrondissement  of  Beth- 
une,  a  short  distance  N.  W.  of  Aumale,  in  Normandy,) 


INDEX  ARMORIAL. 


15 


who  held  a  vast  estate  in  the  part  of  Holderness,  where 
he  built  a  castle ;  these  lands  came  again  into  the 
possession  of  King  William,  who  gave  them  to  his  half- 
sister  Adelais,  Countess  Aumale.  She  was  a  widow 
before  she  married  Odo,  Count  of  Champagne,  who  in 
right  of  his  wife  became  Lord  of  Aumale  in  Normandy, 
and  he  was,  by  King  William's  creation,  about  1071, 
made  Earl  of  Holderness. 

It  is  most  probable  that  the  first  occurrence  of  the 
surname  of  Francais  bearing  a  praenomen  or  baptismal 
name,  found  in  published  records  relating  to  England, 
was  in  the  county  of  York,  between  the  years  1097  and 
1 10 1,  and  then  in  the  personage  of  Robert  Francais,1 
one  of  the  few  recorded  knights  of  the  second  Robert 
de  Brus,  whose  friendship  with  Earl  David  of  Scotland 
at  the  court  of  King  Henry  the  First  of  England, 
seems  to  have  culminated  soon  after  his  accession  to 
the  Scottish  Throne  in  11 24,  as  King  David  the  First,2 
by  the  establishment  of  De  Brus  in  the  Annandale  of 
Scotland,  and  his  son,  the  third  Robert  de  Brus,  inher- 
ited his  Scotch  possessions. 

Chalmer  refers  "  to  Robert  de  Brus  obtaining  the 
grant  of  Annandale,"  and  goes  on   to  state  "  as  the 

1  The  record  reads  "  Robertus  de  Brus,  and  three  of  his  own  knights,  Roge- 
rus  de  Rosel,  Wydo  de  Lofthus  and  Robertus  Francais."  There  was  a  Lordship 
of  Rosel,  in  the  Cotentin  of  Normandy. 

2  Sir  Robert  de  Brus  is  the  first  witness  to  a  charter  of  Earl  David  of  Scot- 
land, to  the  church  of  Glasgow,  at  the  period  of  its  restoration  and  building ;  in 
the  foundation  charter  of  Kelso ;  and  he  is  again  mentioned  as  the  first  witness 
after  Bishop  John  of  Glasgow,  in  two  charters  of  King  David  the  First,  in  the 
year  1126,  the  third  year  of  his  reign. 


1 6  PREFACE. 

charters  of  King  David  established  a  tenure  by  the 
sword,  we  may  easily  suppose,  that  Bruce  brought  with 
him  into  the  Annandale  Knights  and  Yeomen  from 
Yorkshire,  as  indeed  might  be  shown  by  tracing  to  their 
source  some  respectable  families  in  Dumfrieshire." 
The  feudality  existing  in  Yorkshire  to  which  reference 
has  already  been  made,  the  origin  of  the  Bruces  and 
Franceis  in  Normandy,  the  known  fact  that  a  William 
Franceis  was  a  witness  of  charters  to  the  monks  of 
Melrose  in  Scotland  as  early  as  the  reign  of  King 
William  the  Lyon,  —  these  circumstances  taken  in  con- 
nection with  later  feudatory  relations  with  the  Bruces 
in  the  Annandale,  strongly  favor  the  opinion  that  one 
at  least  of  the  surname  of  Franceis  may  have  been  an 
early  settler  with  the  second  Robert  de  Brus  in  the 
valley  of  the  Annan. 

According  to  M.  Gerville,  Chateau  d'Adam,  the 
castle  of  the  Bruces  of  Great  Britain  and  Normandy 
was  located  in  the  Barony  of  Brix,  of  the  Cotentin  in 
Normandy,  and  was  built  about  the  middle  of  the  12th 
century  by  Adam  de  Brix,1  Baron  of  Brix,  who  gave  it 
that  Christian  name. 

The  abbe  Delamare  refers  to  Adam  de  Brix1  as  the 
founder  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  of  England,  of  the 
church  of  St.  Pierre  de  La  Lutumiere,  also  called  St. 
Jean,  and  M.  L.  de  Pontaumont  continues  by  recording 


1  An  Adam  de  Brus,  son  and  heir  of  Robert  de  Brus,  by  wife  Agnes,  is 
mentioned  in  the  year  1 119  in  the  Charter  of  Foundation  of  the  Priory  of  Gyse- 
burne  in  the  County  of  York. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  17 

St.  Martin -le-Greard  as  belonging  to,  the  Barony  of 
Brix,  and  that  in  the  year  1144  it  was  given  by  Adam 
de  Brueys,1  Baron  of  Brix,  to  the  abbots  of  the  abbey  of 
St.  Sauveur-le-Vicomte  in  the  Contentin,  and  that  in 
this  same  year  Adam  de  Brueys,1  Baron  de  Brix,  gave 
the  church  of  Couville  to  this  same  abbey,  and  that 
Pierre  de  Bueys  in  the  year  1155  confirmed  this 
donation. 

Besides  these  names  there  seems  to  have  been  at  an 
earlier  period,  on  the  authority  of  the  Abbe  Delamare 
several  others  of  this  surname  in  Normandy,  identified 
with  the  Cotentin  viz.  Ralph,  Roger,  and  Richard  de 
Brix,  who  succeeded  as  bishops  in  succession  as  late  as 
the  year  1132  the  famous  Geoffroy  de  Montbray, 
Bishop  and  builder  in  the  Cotentin  of  the  Cathedral  of 
Coutances. 

Delamare  continues :  "  Roger  de  Brix  who  held  the 
see  of  Coutances  for  13  years,  was  a  widower";  Wil- 
liam "  his  son,  one  brother  and  three  nephews,  attaches 
of  Henry,  King  of  England,  perished  "  in  the  year  1 120 
"  off  Barfleur  in  the  Cotentin,  in  the  famous  shipwreck 
of  the  Nef  Blanche.1  Roger  de  Brix  assisted  at  the 
council  of  Rouen  in  11 18,  at  that  of  Reims  in  the 
following  year,  and  died  in  11 26."  "  His  successor  in 
the  bishoprick  was  Richard  de  Brix." 

1  See  note  on  page  16. 

2  King  Henry  the  1st  had  confided  to  Fitz  Stephen,  the  master  of  the  "  White 
Ship,"  his  son  Prince  William,  his  natural  son  Richard,  with  his  daughter  the 
Countess  of  Perche  and  their  suite,  and  all  on  board  were  lost,  except  a  butcher, 
who  alone  remained  to  tell  the  tale. 


18  PREFACE. 

From  these  records  of  Normandy  and  Great  Britain 
we  naturally  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  earlier 
Christian  names  borne  by  members  of  the  family  of 
Bruce,  were  Robert,  William,  Ralph,  Roger,  Richard, 
Adam  and  Pierre,  and  of  these  baptismal  names,  Roger, 
Richard  and  Pierre  are  found  in  an  earlier  account  of 
Normandy,  before  they  appeared  in  the  records  of  this 
family  in  Great  Britain,  which  indicates  a  desire  to 
perpetuate  in  the  latter  country,  the  earlier  names 
particularly  associated  with  the  Bruce  family  of  Nor- 
mandy. Among  these  Christian  names,  Robert,  William 
and  Roger  were  the  earliest  recorded  names  of  those 
bearing  the  surname  of  Franceis,  having  recorded  feu- 
datory relations  with  the  Bruces  of  Great  Britain  ;  and 
in  Scotland  we  also  find,  about  the  year  1200,  one 
Adam  Franceis,  and  at  a  later  period  most  all  the 
Lairds  of  Thornydykes  in  Scotland  had  Robert  as 
their  Christian  name.  This  similarity  of  the  earliest  of 
these  Christian  names  seems  to  give  additional  interest 
to  the  feudal  relations  of  the  Franceis  with  the  Bruces. 

You  find  the  record  of  the  Franceis  in  the  Cotentin 
at  a  somewhat  later  date  than  you  find  these  few 
reminiscences  of  the  Bruces ;  and  the  rolls  of  the 
1 2th  century,  of  this  district,  to  which  reference  has 
already  been  made,  show  only  two  of  this  name, 
William  and  Roger  Franceis,  the  same  baptismal 
names  as  are  found  in  the  Annandale  of  Scotland 
after  King  John  of  England  had  lost  the  Duchy  of 
Normandy,    and   then    as    feudatories   of    Robert   de 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  1 9 

Brus,  as  appears  in  the  Scotch  records  circa  12 18, 
wherein  it  is  stated  "  that  Roger,  son  of  William 
Franciscus,  quit  claims  to  Sir  Robert  de  Brus,  Lord 
of  Annandale,  land  which  the  grantee  held  of  him  in 
the  territory  of  Annan,  for  the  excambion  of  land  in 
the  territory  of  Moffat,  which  William  Franciscus,  the 
grantee's  father,  formerly  held  of  Sir  Robert  de  Brus/' 

M.  Gerville  further  informs  us  that  the  Chateau 
of  Brix  was  confiscated  early  in  the  13th  century, 
and  that  the  reason  of  the  confiscation  was  without 
doubt  because  most  of  the  lords  who  owned  the 
castles  in  Normandy  were  far  better  off  in  England, 
and  so  retained  their  more  lucrative  possessions  in 
the  latter  country ;  and  thus  we  may  account  also  for 
the  Franceis  apparently  preferring  to  retain  their 
possessions  in  Scotland  under  the  Bruces. 

Among  those  holding  by  "  veteri  feoffamento " 
direct  or  by  inheritance  from  the  reign  of  Henry  the 
First,  according  to  the  list  of  Knight- Fees,  compiled 
in  the  fourteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  Henry  the 
Second,  were  the  following :  Aluredus  Franceys  in 
Dorset  held  one-fifth  of  a  knight's  fee  under  Aluredus 
de  Lincolnia.  In  Wiltshire,  Humfridus  Francigena 
held  under  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury  and  Willielmus 
de  Franceis  in  Northamptonshire  under  Robertus 
Foliot,  while  the  Bishop  of  Chichester  in  Sussex  had 
among  his  feoffers  one  of  the  name  of  Franceys. 

In  the  county  of  Hereford  in  the  year  1 167-8 
Hugo  de  Lacy,  Rudulphus  de  Baskerville  and  Thoma  s 


20  PREFACE. 

del  Franceis  held  each  one  knight's  fee  by  "  veteri 
feofTamento "  under  another  Norman  Baron,  Adam 
de  Port. 

Two  of  the  surnames  of  these  knights  are  found 
again  in  a  charter  to  the  Church  of  St.  John  the 
Evangelist,  at  Brecknock,  which  place  was  particularly 
identified  with  Bernard  de  Newmarch;  Milo  Fitz 
Walter,  the  Earl  of  Hereford  ;  William  de  Braose  and 
Rudulphus  de  Baskerville :  and  in  a  charter  to  this, 
church  of  John  Picarde  among  the  witnesses  were 
Rudolphus  de  Baskerville  and  Willielmus  Francigena. 
As  Baskerville  was  killed  about  the  year  1194,  the 
date  of  this  charter  must  have  been  some  time  anterior 
to  that  period. 

Albertus  Francigena,  who  had  two  knight's  fees  in 
the  county  of  Norfolk  under  Willielmus  de  Albeneio, 
Lord  of  Bokenham  and  Chief  Butler  of  his  sovereign, 
is  also  found  several  times  in  the  reign  of  King 
Henry  the  First,  notably  as  a  witness  in  the  two 
foundation  charters  of  the  same  Willielmi  de  Albeneio 
to  the  monastery  of  Wymondham  in  the  county  of 
Norfolk,  and  in  one  of  these  charters  his  brother 
Reginaldus  Francigena  appears  as  a  witness.  The 
name  of  Albertus  Francigena  appears  again  in  two 
other  charters,  those  of  Peter  de  Valoines,  a  tenant 
in  capite  and  nephew  of  King  William  the  Con- 
queror, who  held  in  Norfolk  two  knights'  fees  under 
the  same  Willielmi  de  Albeneio.  One  of  these 
charters   was   a   grant   to   the    monastery    of  Binham 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  21 

in    the    county  of   Norfolk  about  the  year   1 104,  and 
the  other  to  the  same  monastery  in   1 108. 

Apparently  this  same  Albertus  Francigena  is  found 
again,  in  connection  with  the  grant  at  Stoke  in  the 
county  of  Suffolk,  of  Richard  de  Clare,  II  Earl  of 
Clare,  to  the  monks  of  Bee,  whom  he  removed  in  1 124, 
from  the  church  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  in  the  castle  of 
Clare,  to  the  village  of  Stoke  in  the  same  county. 
.  Robert  Fitz  Stephen  de  France,  whose  name  is 
found  in  the  Record  of  the  Chancery  of  Ireland  and 
also  mentioned  by  Lower,  seems  to  have  been  among 
the  companions  of  a  nephew  and  namesake  of  this 
Richard  de  Clare  on  his  invasion  of  Ireland,  about 
the  year  1 1 70.  Reference  is  here  made  to  Richard 
de  Clare,  Earl  of  Pembroke,  surnamed  Strongbow, 
who  died  the  5th  of  April,   11 76. 

Another  instance  in  the  county  of  York,  is  that  of 
Fulconi  Franceis,  whose  name  appears  as  a  witness  in 
one  of  the  charters  of  Jordan  Folioth  to  the  Priory  of 
Pontefract.  This  Jordan  was  the  son  of  William  de 
Folioth,  an  original  donator  to  this  Priory,  as  appears 
by  the  foundation  charter  of  Robert  de  Lacy.  Jordan 
Folioth  held  knights'  fees  in  this  same  county  under 
Henry  de  Lacy,  younger  son  of  aforesaid  Robert  de 
Lacy ;  the  former  had  the  honor  of  Pontefract,  the 
ancient  demesne  of  this  family,  restored  to  him  by  the 
Empress  Maud. 

In  another  charter  to  this  same  Priory  of  Pontefract, 
of  Ralph  de  Capricaria  and  Beatrice  his  sister,  in  the 


22  PREFACE. 

time  of  the  same  Henry  de  Lacy,  a  Ricardo  Franceis  is 
found  a  witness. 

In  a  charter  of  liberation,  to  the  abbey  of  Whiteby 
in  Yorkshire,  by  Roger  de  Mowbray,  nephew  of  Wil- 
liam de  Albeneio  already  named,  Thoraldo  Francigena 
appears  as  a  witness. 

In  the  city  of  London  in  1251,  John  Francigena  or 
Francoys  was  Prebend  of  Holborn. 

Among  the  many  donators  to  the  abbey  of  St.  Mary 
in  Yorkshire,  was  William  Fraunceis  of  Harpham  in 
last  named  county,  who  gave  one  ox-gang  of  land  at 
Harpham. 

Another  grant  to  this  same  abbey,  Robert  de  Manul 
or  Maisnil  gives  the  town  of  Myton,  which  was  con- 
firmed by  his  son  Stephen  de  Maisnil,  and  among  the 
witnesses  is  the  name  of  Walter  Fraunces. 

The  abbey  of  Meaux  in  the  Deanery  of  Holderness 
in  Yorkshire,  was  founded  in  1151  by  William  Le  Gros 
(grandson  of  Odo,  Count  of  Champagne),  Earl  of 
Albemarle  (Aumale)  and  Lord  of  Holderness,  and  in 
the  chronicles  of  this  abbey  between  the  years  1235 
and  1249,  Robert  Fraunceys  appears  among  its  bene- 
factors. 

In  the  charter  of  liberation  of  Thomas  de  Hasty nges, 
in  the  year  1256,  of  the  mill  of  Crossby  in  Cumberland, 
to  the  abbey  of  Whiteby  in  Yorkshire,  William  de 
Franceys  is  found  among  the  witnesses. 

Robert  le  Francois  of  Langele  is  found  among  the 
witnesses  to  a  charter   of  confirmation  of   Henry  de 


INDEX  ARMORIAL. 


23 


Clinton,  to  the  abbey  of  Kenilworth  in  Warwickshire. 
He  was  a  grandson  of  Geoffrey  de  Clinton,  the 
chamberlain  and  treasurer  of  King  Henry  the  First, 
about  the  year  1122,  as  well  as  the  founder  of  this 
abbey. 

Johannes  and  Albinus  Franceis  were  of  the  commit- 
tee of  the  city  of  Worcester,  which  made  a  grant  in 
1235  to  the  Priory  of  Leominster  and  Reading,  but 
chiefly  to  the  former  religious  house. 

The  name  of  Henry  Fraunceys  of  Snypeston,  is 
found  among  the  Jurors  on  an  Inquisition  held  at 
Bredon  in  1302,  after  the  death  of  Robert  de  Tateshall, 
the  lawful  patron  of  the  Nunnery  of  Langley,  near 
Bredon,  in  Leicestershire. 

Continuing  the  county  records,  beginning  with  the 
year  1198  in  the  reign  of  King  Richard  the  First,  and 
passing  down  through  the  reigns  of  Kings  John  and 
Henry  the  Third  to  the  year  1275  in  the  reign  of  King 
Edward  the  First  of  England,  the  surnames  of  Francus, 
Franceis,  etc.,  are  found  in  the  records  relating  to  all 
the  coast  counties  of  England,  commencing  with  Nor- 
folk and  continuing  southerly  and  westward  as  far  as 
Cornwall,  inland  in  Herts,  Middlesex,  Surrey,  Berks, 
Wilts;  they  also  appear  in  Somerset,  Gloucester,  and 
Oxford ;  while  in  the  midland  counties  they  are  dis- 
covered in  Bedford,  Northampton,  Warwick,  Leicester, 
Stafford,  Salop,  Hereford  and  Worcester ;  while  north- 
erly these  names  are  recorded  in  Lincoln,  York,  West- 
moreland and  Cumberland. 


24  PREFACE. 

Analyzing  by  counties  the  following  results  are  obtained  : 

Bedford. 

i  199         Ricardus  Franceis. 

12 12/3     Willielmus  le  Franceis. 

Bedford  and  Somerset. 

1 199         Robertus  Franceis. 

Berks. 

1 199         Johannes  Franceis. 

Buckingham. 

1 2 00/ 1     Willielmus  le  Franceis. 


1203/4 

Robertus  le  Franceis. 

1254/5 

Guido  le  Franceis. 

1278/9 

Prior  John  Franc. 

Chester. 

1273A 

Gilbert  le  Fraunceys. 

Cornwall. 

1201 

Adam  Franceis. 

1234/5 

Nicholas  Francigena. 

Cumberland. 

1 23 1/3  John  Francigena,  Parson  of  Caldebec. 

1 23 1/3  John  Le  Franceys,  Parson  of  Caldebec. 

1 2  41  Johannes  Le  Fraunceys. 

1254/5  Johannes  Le  Fraunceys. 

1259  Gilbertus,  son  of  Ricardus  Le  Franceys. 

1264/5  Johannes  Le  Fraunceys. 

1269/70  Gilbert  le  Franceys. 

1275  Uctred  Franciscus. 

Cumberland  and  Westmoreland. 
1 241/3     Hugo  Le  Fraunceis. 
1273/4     Gilbertus  Le  Fraunceys. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  25 

Derby. 

1273/4  Gilbertus  le  Fraunceys. 

1274/5  Gilbertus  le  Fraunceys. 

1275/6  Gilbertus  le  Fraunceys. 

Devon. 

1201/2  Gilbertus  Franc. 

1267  Galfridus  Fraunceys,  wife  Wimarca. 

1274/5  Robertus  le  Franceis. 

1274/5  Thomas  le  Franceys. 

1274/5  Johannes  le  Franceys. 
Dorset. 

1243/4  Willielmus  Le  Fraunceys. 

Dorset  and  Somerset. 

1189/90  Ricardus  le  Franceis,  mother  Aslizea  and  daughters 

Rohesia  and  Azo. 
1 201/2     Adam  Francigena. 

Essex. 

1 194  Bartholomeus  le  Franceis. 

1 197/8  Ricardus  Le  Franceis,  wife  Matilda. 

1 198  Willielmus  Franco. 

1198  Ricardus  le  Franceis,  wife  Matilda. 

1 199  Ricardus  Franceis. 
1273/4  Willielmus  Franc. 

Gloucester. 

1200  Willielmus  Franceis. 
1 20 1/2     Hugo  Franceis. 

12 19        Galfredus  le  Franceis,  wife  Christiana. 
1275/6     Nicholas  Franceys. 

Hants. 

1207*       Willielmus  Franceis. 
12 15        Walter  Franceis. 


26  PREFACE. 

Hants  {continued'). 

1226  Radulphus  le  Franceis. 

1247  Thomas  Le  Fraunceys. 

1273/5  Willielmus  Fraunceys. 

Hereford. 

1242/3  Rogerus  and  Johannes  Franciscus. 

1242/3  Henry  Franciscus. 

1255  Rogerus  Le  Fraunceys,  wife  Christiana. 

1258  Johannes  Le  Fraunceys. 

Hertford. 

1 198  Willielmus  Franceis. 

1 199  Willielmus  Franceis. 
1274/5  Ricardus  Fraunceys. 

Kent. 

1194  Simon  le  Franceis. 

1 199  Gilbertus  Franceis. 

1 199  Johannes  Franceis. 

1210/11  Ricardus  Franceis. 

12 14  Ricardus  le  Franceis. 

1258  Ricardus  le  Fraunceys. 

1263  Thomas  le  Fraunceys. 

1273/4  Ricum  le  Fraunceys. 

1274/5  Johannes  le  Fraunceys. 

1274/5  Martino  Francisco. 

1274/5  Thomas  le  Franceis. 

1274/5  Hugo  Franceis. 

1274/5  Willielmus  Franceys. 

1275/6  Robertus  le  Franceys. 

Lancaster. 

1272  Rogerus  Le  Fraunceys,  wife  Matilda. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  27 


Leicester. 

1 199  Stepharms  Franc. 

1275/6  Gilbertus  Franceys. 

1275/6  Osbertus  Franceys. 

Lincoln. 

1 199  Willielmus  Franceis. 
1274/5  Willielmus  Frank. 
1274/5  Radulphus  le  Franceis, 
1275/6  Radulphus  le  Fraunceys. 
1275/6  Willielmus  Fraunck. 

Middlesex,  London. 

1200  Willielmus  Franceis. 


Norfolk. 

1 199 

Reginaldus  Francus. 

1 199 

Reinerus  Francus. 

1 199 

Ricardus  Francus. 

1 199 

Willielmus  Francus. 

1 199 

Petrus  le  Franceis. 

1200 

Willielmus  Francus. 

1239 

Hugo,  son  of  Willielmus  Francus. 

1255 

Johannes  le  Franceys. 

1274/5 

Ricardus  le  Franceys. 

1274/5 

Rogerus,  son  of  Thomas  Le  Franceys 

1274/5 

Willielmus  Le  Franceys. 

1274/5 

Henry  Le  Fraunceys. 

1274/5 

Hugo  Le  Fraunceys. 

1274/5 

Ricardus  Le  Fraunceys. 

1274/5 

Willielmus  Le  Fraunceys. 

Northampton. 

1189/90  Willielmus  le  Franceis. 

1 199  Eustachius  Franceis. 

1200  Johannes  Franceis. 


28  PREFACE. 

Northampton  {continued). 

1201  Willielmus  Le  Franceis. 

1234/5  Mathew  de  Franceys  de  Nova  Castro. 

1274/5  Robertus  de  Fraunceys. 

1274/5  Willielmus  Fraunceys. 

1275/6  Willielmus  Fraunceys. 

Northumberland. 

1235/6  Mathew  de  Franceys  de  Nova  Castro. 

1255  Robertus  le  Franceys. 

Oxford. 

1189/90  Robertus  le  Franceis. 

1278/9  Walterus  Franciscus. 

1278/9  Galfridus  le  Frank. 

Salop. 

1 194  Willielmus  Franceis. 
1205  to  1235  Rogerus  Francigena. 

12 15  Willielmus  Franceis. 

1 22 1  Robertus  le  Franceis,  dead. 

1250  Willielmus  le  Fraunceys. 

1254  Willielmus  le  Fraunceys. 

1254/5  Ricardus  le  Franceys. 

1254/5  Willielmus  Francisco. 

1255/6  Willielmus  le  Fraunceys. 

1256  Willielmus,  son  of  Willielmus  Le  Fraunceys. 
1256  Rogerus  le  Fraunceys,  wife  Christiana. 
1256  Willielmus  Fraunceys. 

1256  Thomas  le  Franceis. 

1258  Margery,  Juliana,  and  Alice,  daughters  of  Willielmus 

le  Franceis. 

1260  Willielmus  le  Franceys. 

1260  Willielmus,  son  of  Willielmus  le  Franceys. 

1272  Matilda,  widow  of  Reginald  de  Fraunceys. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL. 


29 


Salop  {continued). 

1272        Willielmus  le  Franceys. 
1273/4     Johannes  Franceys. 
1273/4     Willielmus  Franciscus. 


Somerset. 
1 199 
1 199 
1201 
1250 


Robertas  Franceis. 
Johannes  le  Franceis. 
Robertus  .Franceis. 
Everard,  son  of  Thomas  le  Franceis. 
1275/6     Robertus  le  Fraunceys. 

Stafford. 

1189/90  Robertus  le  Franceis. 
1 198        Osbertus  Franceis. 


Suffolk. 

1 194 

Walterus  le  Franceis. 

1 199 

Willielmus  Franceis. 

1 199 

Ranulphus  Franceis. 

1200 

Willielmus  Franceis. 

1224 

Willielmus  le  Franceis,  wife  Leticia. 

1255 

Willielmus  le  Franceis. 

1274/5 

Johannes  le  Franceis. 

1 274/5 

Thomas  le  Franceys. 

Surrey. 

1 194 

Willielmus  and  Rogerus  Franceis. 

1 199 

Ricardus  Franceis. 

1 199 

Robertus  Franceis. 

1200 

Rogerus  Franceis. 

Sussex. 


1 199  Reginaldus  Franceis. 

1 241/2  Gilbertus  Franc. 

1245  Willielmus  Le  Franceis,  wife  Juliana. 

1274/5  Gilbertus  Franke. 


3o  PREFACE. 

Warwick. 

i  194  Alan,  nephew  of  Robertas  Franceis. 

1 194  Christiana,  wife  of  Robertus  le  Franceis. 

1 194  Christiana,  wife  of  Robertus  Francigena. 

1 199  Hugo  Franceis. 

Westmoreland. 

1242        Johannes  le  Franceys. 
1250        Johannes  le  Franceys. 

12 53  Johannes  le  Franceys. 

1254  Johannes  le  Franceys. 
1258        Johannes  le  Franceys. 

Wiltshire. 

1189/90  Robertus  le  Franceis. 

1189/90  Ricardus,  Simon,  Ernaldus,  and  Everardus  Franceis. 

1 201/2     Robertus  le  Franceis. 

1225/6     Robertus  le  Franceis. 

1 241/2     Robertus  le  Frank. 

1264/5     Rogerus  le  Franceys. 

1268        Rogerus  le  Franceys. 

1274/5     Willielmus  Fraunceys. 

1274/5     Walterus  le  Franke. 

Worcestershire. 

127 1/2     John,  son  of  John  Le  Fraunceys. 

Yorkshire. 

1189/90  Umfridus  le  Franceis. 
1205        Radulphus  le  Franceis. 
1275/6     Walterus  Franceys. 
1275/6     Alanus  le  Franceys. 
1275/6     Walterus  Franceys. 

It  is  well  now  to  take  a  rapid  glance  at  the  general 
published  history  of  England,  from  the  time  of  William 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  31 

the  Conqueror  downwards  to  about  the  end  of  the 
reign  of  Edward  the  First,  during  which  period  the 
Normans  in  England  discontinued  the  use  of  the  Nor- 
man or  French  dialect. 

"  For  at  least  a  century  and  a  half  after  the  conquest 
of  England,  there  were  two  distinct  peoples,  the  Anglo- 
Norman  and  the  Anglo-Saxon,  dwelling  there.  They 
were  locally  intermingled  with  each  other,  but  they 
were  not  fellow  countrymen.  They  held  aloof  from 
each  other  in  social  life,  the  one  in  haughty  scorn,  the 
other  in  sullen  abhorrence.  But  when  we  study  the 
period  of  the  reigns  of  John,  Henry  the  Third,  and 
Edward  the  First,  we  find  Saxon  and  Norman  blended 
together  under  a  common  name,  and  with  the  common 
rights  of  Englishmen." 

"  From  that  time  forth  no  part  of  the  population  of 
England  looked  on  another  part  as  foreigners ;  all  felt 
that  they  were  one  people,  and  that  they  jointly  com- 
posed one  of  the  states  of  Christendom." 

"  It  was  in  this  period,  the  13th  century,  that  our 
English  language,  such  as  it  still  is,  became  the  mother 
tongue  of  every  Englishman,  whether  of  Norman  or  of 
Saxon  origin,  and  according  to  Latham  the  earliest 
extant  specimen  of  the  English  language,  as  contra- 
distinguished from  the  Saxon  and  Semi-Saxon,  is  the 
proclamation  of  Henry  the  Third,  to  the  people  of 
Huntindownschiere,  A.  D.   1258." 

The  anglicizing  of  the  more  modern  surname  of 
French,  began  to  take  place  in  the  latter  part  of  the 


32 


PREFACE. 


13th  century,  and  it  is  possible  earlier  dates,  other 
locations,  and  additional  christian  names  might  have 
been  given  in  the  following  list,  if  the  examinations 
had  been  more  extended.  However,  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  individuals  of  this  name  are  recorded  to  prove 
its  antiquity,  in  different  parts  of  England.  Beginning 
in  Sussex  at  the  south,  it  is  found  northerly  associated 
with  all  the  coast  counties  as  far  as  Suffolk ;  inland,  to 
the  westward,  it  appears  in  Northamptonshire,  and  on 
the  Welsh  frontier  in  the  counties  of  Salop  and  Here- 
ford ;  while  southward  again,  other  records  of  the 
name  are  found  in  Wiltshire,  Hampshire  and  county 
Surrey. 


Bedford. 

Year 

1278/9 

Essex. 

a 

l33° 

Hampshire. 

« 

1309/10 

it 

ii 

1327 

Hereford. 

ii 

i3*5 

Kent. 

u 

1318/19 

Northampton. 

it 

i3i3/*4 

u 

a 

1322/3 

Salop. 

a 

1306/7 

a 

it 

(i 

a 

n 

i323/4 

Surrey. 

it 

1328 

Suffolk. 

it 

1274/5 

Sussex. 

it 

1305 

tt 

a 

1311 

a 

a 

^3^ 

a 

it 

1315 

it 

it 

1319/20 

Willielmus  Frense. 

Miles  le  Frensch. 

Willielmus  Frensh. 

Johannes  le  Freynch. 

Willielmus  Frensh. 

Willielmus  le  Frenshe. 

Matilda  la  Frensshe. 

Robertus  le  Frenshe. 

Alicia  le  Frense. 

her  heir  Rogerus  le  Frense. 

Rogerus  and  Willielmus  le  Frenssh. 

Robertus  le  Frenche. 

Gilbertus  le  Freynsce. 

Robertus  le  Frensh. 

Thomas  le  Frensh. 

Johannes  le  Frensh. 

Robertus  le  Frensshe. 

Johannes  le  Frensh. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  33 

Sussex,  Year  1320  |  Robertus  j    Frensshe. 

"     1322  J 

"  "     1330  Johannes  le  Frensh. 

Wiltshire,  "     13 15  Johannes  le  Frensh. 

It  will  be  observed  in  this  collection  of  court  armor, 
there  are  numerically  two  conspicuous  classifications 
in  Great  Britain  borne  by  the  surname  of  French. 
Those  bearing  the  wolf,  which-  appears  to  have  be- 
longed to  the  more  northern  families,  this  figure  being 
apparently  of  local  origin  ;  and  the  other  bearing  the 
dolphins,  etc.,  and  mainly  confined  to  the  more 
southern  counties  of  England. 

The  wolf  is  rarely  to  be  found  in  Scotch  armory, 
but  in  the  Merse  most  of  the  leading  ancient  families 
carried  wild  animals  or  their  heads.  Near  the  Wolf- 
struther  or  Wolfmarch  of  this  district  were  the 
Frenches,  the  association  of  this  wild  animal  with  their 
neighborhood  evidently  giving  them  a  suitable  terri- 
torial cognizance ;  and,  at  a  later  period,  when  they 
apparently  changed  their  coat,  they  still  retained  the 
wolf,  which  may  be  considered  as  the  principal  figure 
of  their  paternal  coat,  as  a  crest. 

The  Earl  of  Dunbar  and  March,  whose  armorial 
bearings  were  an  argent  lion  rampant,  surrounded  by 
argent  roses  on  a  field  gules,  was  the  earliest  recorded 
overlord  of  these  Frenches ;  and  in  the  charter  from 
Earl  George,  Robert  French  of  Thornydykes  is  desig- 
nated by  that  Earl  as  "  clarissimus  consanguineus 
noster."     So  it  would  have   been    more   natural   with 


34  PREFACE. 

any  change  in  their  coat  armor,  to  have  differenced 
their  coat  from  that  of  Dunbar  their  superior  Lord,  an 
ancient  custom  illustrated  in  this  latter  family  by  the 
coats  of  the  Homes,  Dundas,  Edgar,  Hepburn,  etc. 
But  the  Frenches  appear  to  have  taken  a  different 
course  in  accordance  with  ancient  usage,  —  that  of 
assuming  the  arms  of  an  heiress,  (which  was  in  exist- 
ence before  marshalling  many  coats  on  one  shield,) 
the  three  boar's  heads  in  tincture  and  metal,  —  the 
armorial  bearings  of  their  neighbors  the  Gordons, 
but  duly  differenced  by  the  addition  of  the  chevron, 
—  which  possibly  implies  an  early  marriage  with  that 
family. 

As  regards  the  Frenches  of  England  bearing  the 
bend  with  dolphins,  both  particularly  identified  with 
France,  they  may  be  considered  armorially  of  one 
family,  and  from  the  fact  that  the  family  of  this 
surname  in  Ireland  generally  bore  as  a  crest  a 
dolphin,  it  has  been  considered  that  they  were  of 
the  same  origin ;  yet  still  they  may  be  quite  dis- 
tinct. 

Incidentally  associated  with  this  subject,  it  is  well 
to  direct  attention  to  a  certain  similarity  between  two 
coats  in  France  and  those  of  some  of  the  Frenches  in 
England.  Reference  is  here  made  first  to  the  coat  of 
the  Dauphin  of  St.  Etienne,  who  bore  az.  on  a  bend 
or  a  dolphin  gu. 

2d.  The  coats  belonging  to  the  d'Aumales,  (those 
of  Flandre    Francaise)    bore  d'azure  trois  bandes  or; 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  35 

those    of    Picardi    d'azure   a.   une   bande   de   gueules 
chargee  de  trois  besans  d'or. 

In  England  the  Foliots  of  Northamptonshire  and 
Yorkshire  bore  gu.  a  bend  arg.,  while  in  County  Nor- 
folk the  coat  is  differenced  by  changing  the  tincture  of 
the  bend  to  or. 

The  coats  of  the  De  Frenes  herein  blazoned  have 
an  interest  in  connection  with  some  coats  of  the 
Frenches,  specially  with  those  of  Ireland,  from  the 
fact  that  both  Dalton  and  Burke  claim  a  relationship 
between  those  families,  and  it  has  been  said  they  have 
an  armorial  connection. 

The  Fleur  de  lis  and  Dolphin  in  heraldry  were  parti- 
cularly identified  with  France,  and  from  the  fact  that 
they  were  the  principal  armorial  figures  of  their  kings 
and  that  of  their  eldest  sons  the  Dauphins,  they  were 
consequently  rarely  to  be  found  in  its  general  armory, 
except  by  special  concession  ;  but  in  a  foreign  country 
like  England  these  emblems  were  more  frequent,  and 
both  of  these  appear  in  the  heraldic  rolls  of  the  latter 
country  in  the  middle  of  the  13th  century.  In  France, 
the  azure  dolphin  on  a  field  or,  appeared  on  the  shield 
of  Andre,  comte  d'Albon  and  dauphin  of  Viennois. 
The  Burgundian  line  of  the  Dauphins  of  Viennois  ended 
in  1 28 1,  on  the  death  of  Jean  First,  whose  daughter 
Anne,  Countess  d'Albon  had  married  in  1273,  Humbert 
of  the  collateral  line  of  La  Tour-du-Pin,  who  succeeded 
the  late  count  as  Humbert  First :  this  house  continued 
in  the  person  of  Jean  Second,  until  the  death  of  his 


3  6  PREFACE. 

successor  Guigues  Eighth  in  1333,  when  it  passed  to 
his  brother,  Baron  of  Faucigny,  who  then  succeeded 
as  Humbert  Second,  Comte  d'Albon  and  Dauphin  of 
Viennois.  He  married  Marie  de  Baux,  daughter  of 
Count  d'Andria ;  the  sad  fate  of  his  infant  son  and 
only  child,  together  with  continued  war  with  his  relative 
and  neighbor  Amedee  Sixth,  the  Count  of  Savoy,  had 
such  an  influence  upon  him,  that  he  finally  retired  from 
the  world  in  1349,  taking  the  habit  of  Saint  Dominique, 
having  in  this  year  confirmed  the  cession  to  Philip 
of  Valois,  King  of  France,  of  the  important  prov- 
ince of  Dauphine.  Thereafter  you  find  the  eldest 
sons  of  the  kings  of  France  styling  themselves 
Dauphins  of  Viennois  and  bearing  the  coat  armour 
of  that  extensive  province.  This  title  was  given  to 
Charles  his  young  grandson,  son  of  John,  Duke  of 
Normandie,  who  in  1364  became  King  Charles  the 
Fifth. 

Brydson  states  "  that  the  first  Troubadour  was  called 
the  Dauphin  or  Knight  of  the  Dolphin,  because  he 
bore  this  figure  on  his  shield.  In  the  person  of  one 
of  his  successors,  the  name  became  a  title  of  sovereign 
dignity." 

It  is  possible  this  may  refer  to  Robert  Dauphin 
called  Robert  First,  Comte  de  Clermont  and  Dauphin 
d'Auvergne,  a  descendant  of  Guignes  Fourth,  Dau- 
phin of  Viennois,  who  was  born  about  the  year  1234, 
and  is  mentioned  among  the  patrons  and  practisers  of 
the  poetic  art  of  the  Troubadours. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL. 


37 


Judging  by  the  illustrations  of  Anderson,  the  Royal 
Seals  and  Coins  of  Scotland  in  the  reign  of  Queen 
Mary,  were  particularly  interesting  with  the  associa- 
tions of  the  Dolphins  and  Fleurs  de  lis,  and  armor- 
ially  they  show  an  interesting  historical  page  in  the 
history  of  Queen  Mary  as  well  as  that  of  the  Dauphin 
Francis. 

In  the  year  1558,  when  Queen  Mary  of  Scotland 
married  Francis,  Dauphin  of  France,  she  became 
Dauphiness  of  Viennois.  Francis  was  heir  apparent 
of  the  throne  of  France,  succeeding  his  father  King 
Henry  the  Second,  as  Francis  the  Second,  King  of 
France,  on  the  10th  July,  1559,  at  which  time  Queen 
Mary  of  Scotland  was  also  Queen  of  France.  Their 
reign  was  of  but  short  duration,  as  Francis  died  5th 
December,  1560.  The  first  coin  of  Scotland  now  pre- 
sented, is  that  bearing  the  date  of  1557,  which  shows 
on  one  side  only  the  arms  of  Scotland,  the  same  as  on 
one  of  the  Great  Seals  of  Queen  Mary.  A  charter 
dated  at  Paris  in  1558  of  Francis  and  Mary  by  the 
grace  of  God,  King  and  Queen  of  Scotland,  England 
and  Ireland,  Dauphin  and  Dauphiness  of  Viennois,  etc., 
has  on  one  side  of  the  Royal  Seal,  the  arms  of  alliance 
dimidiated,  the  sinister  half  removed,  showing  only  two 
quarters:  1st,  the  dolphin,  the  arms  of  the  Dauphin; 
3d,  the  arms  of  Scotland,  those  of  Queen  Mary,  while 
on  the  sinister  half  of  the  shield  were  the  arms  of  Scot- 
land dimidiated,  or  the  dexter  bordure  removed.  On  a 
coin  of  1558  you  find  four  pair  of  dolphins  arranged 


38  PREFACE. 

somewhat  in  the  form  of  a  cross ;  on  another  at  this 
same  period,  a  shield  per  pale,  the  arms  of  the  Dauphin 
of  France  on  the  dexter  side,  and  those  of  Queen  Mary 
on  the  sinister  side  of  the  escutcheon.  In  1559  there 
is  still  another,  the  entire  arms  of  alliance.  Quarterly 
1  st  and  4th,  the  arms  of  the  Dauphin  ;  2d  and  3d,  the 
arms  of  Queen  Mary.  One  more,  evidently  of  this  or- 
the  following  year,  when  Francis  had  become  King  of 
France.  This  shows  quarterly:  1st  and  4th,  the  three 
fleurs  de  lis  for  France  ;  2d  and  3d,  the  arms  of  Scot- 
land. 

On  a  coin  of  1560  the  arms  of  France  are  impaled 
with  those  of  Scotland.  Another  coin  of  this  same 
year  deserves  a  passing  notice.  On  the  dexter  half  of 
the  shield  are  the  arms  of  France  dimidiated ;  on  the 
sinister  half,  quarterly  of  four,  1st  and  4th,  the  arms 
of  Scotland  ;  2d  and  3d  grand  quarters,  quarterly  quar- 
tered, 1  st  and  4th,  France  ;  2d  and  3d,  England. 

One  of  the  Great  Seals  of  Queen  Mary  shows:  1st, 
the  arms  of  France  dimidiated,  and  the  entire  arms  of 
Scotland  on  the  sinister  half  of  the  shield.  The  same 
coat  is  found  on  a  coin  of  1562,  the  time  of  Queen 
Mary,  during  the  reign  of  King  Charles  the  Ninth  of 
France. 

"In  ancient  days  the  younger  sons  of  the  Kings  of 
France  were  not  permitted  to  carry  the  arms  of  France 
with  a  brisure,  but  only  allowed  to  make  use  of  the 
tinctures  of  that  kingdom,  azure  and  or,  in  those  figures 
which    the   younger    sons   of  the    King    assumed    on 


INDEX  ARMORIAL. 


39 


account  of  their  marriages,  feus  or  appanages.  One 
of  the  earliest  illustrations  of  this  custom  was  that  of 
the  ancient  Dukes  of  Burgundy  "  (which  line  ended  in 
1361),  who  bore  six  bends  of  the  Royal  tinctures  within 
a  bordure  gules.1  So  it  appears  that  the  Fleur-de-lis, 
the  Dolphin  and  Bend  were  among  the  earliest  emblems 
of  the  Royal  family  of  France.  The  bend  or,  so 
associated  with  the  Royal  family  in  ancient  days,  ap- 
parently gave  to  the  bend  argent  a  greater  notoriety 
because  of  its  more  general  use,  and  for  that  reason 
was  doubtless  considered  by  the  author  of  La  Science 
Heroi'que  generally  emblematical  of  France.  Even  in 
Scotland  according  to  an  early  authority,  such  French- 
men as  bore  a  bend,  bore  it  argent  to  show  their 
origin.  This  metal  according  to  Playne  was  that  of  the 
cross  which  represented  France  at  the  Crusades,  and 
in  the  Salle  des  Croisades  at  Versailles,  the  Grand 
Masters  of  the  Order  of  Saint  Jean  de  Jerusalem  bore 
argent  crosses  on  their  shields. 

According  to  the  Armorial  General  of  France,  pub- 
lished in  the  17th  century,  the  surnames  of  de,  des,  du, 
and  le  Franc ;  France  and  de  France  ;  Francois,  des 
Francois  and  le  Francois,  were  pretty  generally  scat- 
tered over  the  different  provinces. 

As  a  matter  of  interest  relating  to  some  of  these 
surnames,  the  records  of  France  show  that  in  1350,  the 


1  "  The  second  race  of  the  Royal  Dukes  bore  the  ancient  coat  on  the  2d  and 
3d  quarters,  and  on  the  1st  and  4th  quarters,  azure  semee  of  fleurs-de-lis  within 
a  bordure  gobonated  argent  and  gules  for  Burgundy  modern." 


40  PREFACE. 

year  after  Dauphine  had  come  into  the  possession  of 
the  Royal  family,  the  same  year  in  which  began  the 
reign  of  King  John  of  France,  whose  son  Charles  was 
the  first  Dauphin  of  the  Royal  line,  Hughes  de  France 
received  the  patent  of  nobility.  Eight  years  later,  in 
the  reign  of  the  same  King,  Bertrand  Defranche,  a 
citizen  of  Montpellier  in  Languedoc,  received  a  patent 
of  nobility.  During  this  century  his  name  is  many 
times  found  recorded  in  the  history  of  France,  and 
he  was  among  those  taken  prisoners  at  the  battle  of 
Cocherel  in  Normandie,  in  the  year  1364. 

In  1363  Jean  le  Francois,  ancient  master  of  the 
Chamber  of  the  King  of  Navarre,  received  a  patent  of 
nobility,  and  in  the  following  year  the  same  honor  was 
conferred  upon  Jacques  de  France. 

In  1378  King  Charles  the  Fifth  conferred  upon  Jean 
France,  his  counsellor  at  the  bailliage  of  Orleans,  and 
his  family,  the  patent  of  nobility. 

In  1404,  in  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Sixth,  the  noble 
rank  was  conferred  upon  Jean  Le  Francois,  master  of 
the  Pantry  of  the  King's  uncle  Jean,  Duke  of  Berry, 
and  in  the  same  year  d'Etienne  le  Francois  and  his 
descendants  became  Francs  in  social  condition. 

The  accompanying  armorial  collection  shows  many 
locations  of  those  bearing  the  surname  of  French  in 
England,  yet  much  additional  information  is  still  desired 
as  to  the  names  of  the  townships  and  counties  in  which 
they  were  located,  as  well  as  additional  information 
about  their  coats  of  arms  prior  to  the  year  1650. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL. 


41 


The  writer  suggests  that  such  information  be  pub- 
lished in  "The  Genealogist"  or  "The  Notes  and 
Queries  "  of  London,  or  if  more  agreeable,  they  can  be 
sent  to  the  undersigned. 

A.  D.  WELD  FRENCH. 

No.  160  State  Street, 

Boston,  Massachusetts, 

United  States. 


BRITISH  ARMORIAL 

FRENCH. 


BRITISH   ARMORIAL 


CROSS. 

French.     Arg.  a  cross  triparted  sa. 

French.     Arg.  a  cross  triparted  and  fretted  sa. 

French.     Sa.  a  cross  triparted  and  fretted  arg. 


SALTIRE. 

Franche  (Franke).  Thomas,  Guisnes  Pursuivant  in 
the  reign  of  King  Richard  the  Third  (1483- 1485), 
who  incorporated  the  College  of  Heralds ;  ad- 
vanced to  Blue-mantle  Pursuivant  in  the  following 
reign,  that  of  King  Henry  the  Seventh  (1485- 
1509).  He  died  in  office.  He  was  probably  a 
relation  of  Henry  Ffranche,  who  was  Comfort 
Pursuivant  before  becoming  Blue-mantle,  from 
which  position  he  was  advanced,  by  the  creation 
of  King  Edward  the  Fourth  ( 146 1- 1483)  in  his 
favor  (according  to  Lant)  of  the  York  Heraldship. 
Vert  a  saltire  (St.  Andrew's  cross)  invected  or. 

French.  Co.  Worcester.  Per  saltire  arg.  and  sa.  a 
lion  ramp,  counterchanged. 

45 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRENCH.  47 


BEND. 

French.     Sa.  a  bend  arg.  betw.  two  cotises  indented  or. 


BEND   WITH   DOLPHINS. 

French  of  Horneford,  Co.  Devon.  Az.  a  bend  betw. 
two  dolphins  embowed  bendwise  arg. 

French  of  Sharpham,  parish  of  Ashprington  (near 
Totness) ,  Co.  Devon.  Sa.  a  bend  betw.  two  dol- 
phins haurient  embowed  arg. 

French  of  Counties  Devon,  Kent  and  Sussex.  Sa.  a 
bend  between  two  dolphins  embowed  bendwise 
arg. 

French  of  Co.  Kent.  Sa.  a  bend  arg.  betw.  two  dol- 
phins embowed  bendwise  or. 

French.  Sa.  a  bend  arg.  betw.  two  dolphins  naiant 
embowed  or. 

Crest.     In  a  crescent  arg.  a  fleur-de-lis  sa. 

French.  Sa.  a  bend  arg.  betw.  two  dolphins  haurient 
embowed  or. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRENCH.  49 

French  of  Cranfield,  100th  of  Dunmow,  Co.  Essex. 
Az.  a  bend  or  betw.  two  dolphins  embowed  bend- 
wise  arg. 

Crest.     A  crescent  per  pale  arg.  and  or ;  betw. 
the  horns  a  fleur-de-lis  per  pale  or  and  arg. 

French  of  Co.  Essex.  Gu.  a  bend  or  betw.  two  dol- 
phins embowed  bendwise  arg. 

Crest.    A  crescent  arg. ;  betw.  the  horns  a  fleur- 
de-lis  or. 

French  of  Stream,  Chiddingly  (near  Lewes),  Co.  Sus- 
sex. Gu.  a  bend  betw.  two  dolphins  embowed 
bendwise  arg. 

French  of  Co.  Sussex  (on  a  hatchment  in  Chiddingly 
church).  Arg.  a  bend  betw.  two  dolphins  em- 
bowed bendwise  sa. 

French  of  Berkshire.  A  bend  betw.  two  dolphins  em- 
bowed bendwise. 

French.  Arg.  two  bendlets  betw.  as  many  dolphins 
embowed  bendwise  sa. 


French.  Sa.  a  bendlet  betw.  three  fishes  haurient  arg. 
two  in  chief  and  one  in  base. 

French.  Sa.  a  bend  betw.  two  barbels  embowed  bend- 
wise arg. 

French  of  Co.  Essex.  Arg.  a  bend  engrailed  sa.  betw. 
two  birds  gu. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.-- FRENCH.  51 


PER   BEND   SINISTER  WITH   LION. 

French  of  Pershore,  Co.  Worcester.     Per  bend  sinis- 
ter invected  or  and  sa.  a  lion  ramp,  counterchanged. 
Crest.     A  fleur-de-lis  sa.  seeded  or. 
French  of  Bellturbot,  Co.  Cavan,  Ireland.     Per  bend 
sinister  engrailed  or  and  sa.  a  lion  ramp.  betw.  two 
fleurs-de-lis  counterchanged. 

Crest.  A  fleur-de-lis  or  charged  with  a  trefoil 
vert.  These  arms  were  granted  in  Ireland  July 
26,  1682. 


FESS. 

Frenche.     Arg.  a  fess  engrailed  gu.  in  chief  a  rose   of 
the  last. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRENCH.  53 


CHEVRON. 

Frenches  of  French  Park,  Roscommon,  Ireland. 
Baron  Defreyne. 

x\rms.     Ermine  a  chev.  sa. 

Crest.     A  dolphin  naiant  embowed  ppr. 

Supporters,  Dexter,  an  ancient  Irish  warrior, 
habited,  supporting  in  his  dexter  hand  a  battle- 
axe,  head  downward  and  bearing  on  his  sinister 
arm  a  shield  all  ppr. ;  sinister,  a  female  figure  ppr. 
vested  and  scarf  flowing  arg. 

Motto.     Malo  mori  quam  foedari.1 
Frenches  of  French  Castle,  Co.  Galway,  Ireland. 
Baron  French. 

Arms.     Ermine  a  chev.  sa. 

Crest.     A  dolphin  naiant  embowed  ppr. 

Supporters.  Dexter,  a  falcon  gu.  armed,  mem- 
bered,  belled  and  wings  inverted  or;  sinister,  a 
unicorn  gu.  armed,  unguled,  crined  and  tufted  or, 
holding  in  the  mouth  a  rose  branch  with  two  red 
roses  thereon. 

Motto.     Mors  potius  macula. 


1  "  Anne  of  Bretagne,  Queen  of  Charles  VIII,  and  afterwards  of  Louis  XII, 
adopted  the  ermine,  the  ancient  hereditary  device  of  her  duchy,  with  the  above 
motto,  '  Better  to  die  than  be  sullied,'  or  as  the  French  render  it,  '  Plutot  mourir 
que  souiller.'  However,  she  more  frequently  used  the  motto  of  the  Breton 
Order  of  the  Ermine,  '  A  ma  vie.'  " 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRENCH. 


55 


French  of  Monivea  Castle,  Co.  Galway,  Ireland.    Erm. 
a  chev.  sa. 

Crest.    A  dolphin  naiant  embowed  ppr. 
French    of    Cloonyquin,    Co.    Roscommon,    Ireland. 
Erm.  a  chev.  sa. 

Crest.     A  dolphin  naiant  ppr. 


French.     Erm.  a  chev.  gu. 

Crest.    A  dolphin  embowed  ppr.    This  is  proba- 
bly an  Irish  Coat. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRENCH.  5  7 


FOXES. 

French  of  Cuskinney,  Co.  Cork,  Ireland.     Vert  three 
foxes. 

Crest.     A  dolphin. 
Motto.     Veritas  vincit. 


WOLF. 

French.     Per  pale  sa.  and  arg.  a  wolf  salient  counter- 
changed. 
French.     Per  pale  sa.  and  az.  a  wolf  salient  arg. 
French.     Per  pale  sa.  and  az.  a  wolf  statant  arg. 
French.     Per  pale  sa.  and  az.  a  wolf  passant  arg. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRENCH.  59 


SCOTLAND. 


WOLF. 
French.     Per  pale  sa.  and  arg.  a  wolf  salient  gu. 


BOAR'S  HEADS. 


French  of  Thornydykes,   Co.   Berwick.     Az.   a  chev. 
betw.  three  boar's  heads  erased  or. 
Crest.     A  wolf  passant.1 
Motto.     Nee  timeo,  nee  sperno. 
French.     Az.  a  chev.  engr.  or  betw.  three  boar's  heads 

erased  arg. 
French.     Az.  a  chev.  betw.  three  boar's  heads    .     .     . 

arg. 
French.     Az.  a  chev.  betw.  three  boar's  heads  couped 

arg. 
French  of  Frenchland,  Parish  of  Moffat,  Co.  Dumfries. 
Az.   a  chev.  betw.  three  boar's  heads  erased  or. 
Crest.     A  fox2  passant. 
Motto.     Nee  timeo,  nee  sperno. 


1  This  crest  is  found  in  Nisbet's  Genealogical  collection,  MS.,  at  the  Advocate  s' 
Library.  The  tincture  of  the  crest  may  have  been  originally  gules,  but  accord- 
ing to  more  modern  usage  it  has  been  considered  proper. 

2  So  given  by  Mr.  Andrew  Ross,  Marchmont  Herald  and  Mr.  Francis  J. 
Grant,  Carrick  Pursuivant,  in  their  work  of  1892. 


FRANCKE. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRANCKE.  63 


VARIOUS    CHARGES. 

Francke  of  Grimsby,  Co.  Lincoln  (temp.  Richard  2d) 

and  of  Essex  and  Sussex.     Arg.  a  bend  engr.  sa. 

betw.  two  cornish  choughs  ppr. 

Crest.      On  a  staff  raguly  fessways  or,  a  cornish 

chough  ppr. 
Francke.     Arg.  a  bend  dancettee  sa.  betw.  two  cornish 

choughs  ppr. 
Francke.     Or  a  bend  engrailed  sa. ;   in  sinister  chief  a 

cornish  chough  ppr. 
Franke  of  Co.  Essex.     Arg.  a  bend  engrailed  sa.  betw. 

two  crows  ppr. 
Franke  of  Co.  Leicester.     Az.  a  fess  embattled  erm. 

betw.  two  dexter  arms  vambraced  arg.  garnished 

or. 

Crest.     Out  of  a  mural  crown  or  a  dexter  arm 

vambraced  as  in  the  arms,  holding  a  falchion  arg. 

hilt  and  pomel  or. 

Granted  by  Thomas  St.  George,  Feb.  6th,  1689. 
Franke.     Vert  a  saltire  or. 
Franks.     (Wm.)  of  Woodhill,  Hatfield,  Co.  Hertford. 

Vert  on  a  saltire  or  a  torteau. 

Crest.     On  the  trunk  of  a  tree  ppr.  a  hawk  of  the 

last  charged  on  the  breast  with  a  torteau. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRANCKE.  65 

Motto.     Sic  vos  non  vobis. 
Another  of  the  surname  and  arms  had  for  a  crest, 
on  the  stump  of  a  tree  ppr.  a  falcon  or. 
Franke  or  Frankish  of  Allingley,  Co.  York.     Vert  a 
saltire  engrailed  or. 

Same  coat  borne  by  Francke  of  Co.  Derby  and 
Co.  Lincoln,  also  by  Rev.  E.  Frank  of  Campsall, 
Co.  York,  the  latter  having  as  a  crest,  a  falcon. 
Franck.     Vert  on  a  saltire  engl.  or  a  lion's  head  erased 

gu- 

Crest.      Out    of   a    mural    coronet  or  a   lion's 

head  gu.  betw.  two  wings  erminois. 

Franckes.     Vert  a  saltire  lozengy  or. 

Francke.     Vert  a  saltire  fu silly  or. 

Franke.     Vair  a  saltire  engl.  or. 

Frank.     John,  of  Bough tridge,   Scotland.     Vert  on  a 

saltire    engl.    arg.    five    fleurs-de-lis   of  the   first. 

Crest.      A   lion    salient,  with  tail  forked   ppr. 

langued  gu. 

Motto.     Non  nobis  nati. 

Franks.     Moses,  Teddington,  Co.  Middlesex.     Arg.  a 

bend  betw.  six  lions  ramp.  sa. 

Crest.     A  stag's  head  erased  ppr. 

Franke.     Knighton,  Co.  York.     Gu.  three  hawks  close 

arg.  beaked  and  belled  or. 


FRANCOIS. 


s 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.—  FRANCOIS.  69 


VARIOUS   CHARGES. 

Francois  (France) .     Or  ten  torteaux,  on  each  a  hawk's 
bell  arg. 

Another,  or  ten  crescents  gu.  on  each  a  hawk's 
bell  arg. 
Francois.     Gu.  a  pale  vair. 

Crest.    On  the  stump  of  a  tree  shooting  forth 
branches,  a  hawk,  belled  ppr. 
Francois.     Erm.  three  bars  sa. 


FRANCEIS. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRANCE  IS. 


73 


VARIOUS   CHARGES, 

Francis.  Sa.  on  a  bend  gu.  cotised  of  the  last,  three 
owls  or. 

Franceys.  Vert  a  fess  or  counterflory  of  fleurs-de-lis 
of  the  same. 

Francis  or  Fraunces.  Per  fess  indented  arg.  and  sa. 
three  cocks,  charged  on  the  necks  with  two  bars, 
all  counterchanged. 

Francis.     Erm.  two  bars  sa. 

Francies.     Erm.  three  bars  sa. 

Francis.  Gu.  a  chev.  erm.  betw.  three  doves  volant 
arg. 

Crest.    A  dove,  in  the  beak  an  olive  branch  ppr. 
Motto.     Insontes  ut  Columbae. 

Francis.  Co.  Suffolk.  Gu.  a  chev.  engrailed  ermine 
betw.  three  pigeons  rising  arg.  legged  or. 

Francis.  Gu.  a  chev.  erm.  betw.  three  pigeons  volant 
arg. 

Fraunceys,  Symond,  Lord  Mayor  of  London  in  1342 
and  1355.  Gu.  a  saltire  betw.  four  crosses  cross- 
lets  or. 

Francis  of  Norfolk  bore  the  same  coat  as  the  last. 

Another,  Az.  a  saltire  betw.  four  crosses  cross- 
lets  or. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRANCE  IS.  75 

Francis  of  Co.  Derby  and  Co.  Essex.      Gu.  a  saltire 

betw.  four  crosses  formee  or. 
Francis,  Co.  Derby.     Per  bend  or  and  sa.  a  lion  ramp. 

counterchanged. 

Crest.     An  eagle  disp.  erm.  beaked  and  mem- 

bered  or.     Granted  May  4,  1577. 
Francis,  Sir  Edward,  Co.  Derby.     Per  bend  sa.  and  or 

a  lion  ramp,  counterchanged. 
Frances.     Per  bend  az.  and  or  a  lion  ramp,  counter- 
changed. 
Francis,  Co.  Derby.    Per  bend  az.  and  arg.  a  lion  ramp. 

counterchanged. 
Francis  of  London  and  Colchester,  Co.  Essex.     Per 

fess  az.  and  or  a  lion  ramp,  counterchanged. 
Fraunceys,  Sir  Adam,  Lord  Mayor  of  London  in  1352 

and   1353.      Per  bend  sinister  sa.  and  or  a  lion 

ramp,  counterchanged. 
Frances,  Scotland.     Arg.  a  chev.   betw.   three  eagles 

displayed  az. 

Crest.    The  stump  of  an  oak  shooting  forth  a 

branch  from  the  sinister  vert. 
/Franceis,    Fraunceis    or    Francis  (of  Foremark,    Co. 

Derby,  in   1360;  Jane  dau.  and  heiress  of  Wm. 

Frauncys  of  Foremark,    Esq.,    mar.    Sir  Thomas 

Burdett,  Bart.     The  Franceis  of  Coxliench  were  a 

younger  branch  of  the  Foremark  family).     Arms.1 

Arg.  a  chev.  betw.  three  eagles  displ.  gu. 

Crest.      A  falcon  rising  or,  in  its  beak  a  vine 

branch  fructed  ppr. 

1  "The  Topographer  and  Genealogist,"  vol.  ist,  p.  361,  gives  this  coat  as  arg. 
a  chev.  gu.  betw.  three  eagles  displ.  sa. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.—  FRANCE  IS, 


77 


Francis.  Co.  Stafford,  had  the  same  shield  as  above, 
but  bore  as  a  crest,  out  of  a  ducal  coronet  or  a 
demi  eagle  displ.  gu.  —  Another  Frances  bore  the 
same  shield,  with  the  following  crest ;  an  eagle, 
with  wings  endorsed  or  on  a  branch  of  grapes 
reflexed  over  his  head,  fructed  ppr.  leaved  vert. 

Francis  of  Co.  Derby  and  Cookmaines,  Co.  Hertford, 
arg.  on  a  chev.  wavy  betw.  three  eagles  displ.  gu. 
as  many  estoiles  of  the  first. 

Crest.     On  the  trunk  of  a  vine  tree,  fructed,  an 
eagle,  wings  elevated,  all  ppr. 

Frances.  Arg.  a  fess  betw.  three  eagles  displ.  with 
two  heads  gu. 

Francis  or  Fraunces  of  Co.  Derby.  Arg.  a  chev.  gu. 
betw.  three  eagles  displ.  sa. 

Francis.     Gu.  a  chev.  betw.  three  eagles  displ.  or. 

Frances.     Arg.  a  chev.  betw.  three  mullets  gu. 

Fraunceis  of  Fraunceis  court  in  Broad-Clist,  Co. 
Devon,  temp.  Edward  II.  and  subsequently  of 
Combe  Flory,  Co.  Somerset;  one  of  the  co-heirs 
mar.  Prideaux,  whose  descendants  bore  the  name  of 
Fraunceis,  and  were  represented  by  John  Fraunceis 
Gwynn,  of  Forde  Abbey,  Esq.  Arms.  Arg.  a 
chev.  engr.  betw.  three  mullets  gu. 

Francis  of  Co.  Devon  and  Combe  Flory,  Co.  Somerset. 
Arg.  a  chev.  betw.  three  mullets  gu.  pierced  of  the 
field. 

Frances  of  Co.  Somerset.  Arg.  a  chev.  engr.  betw. 
three  mullets  pierced  gu. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRANCEIS. 


79 


Francise.     Arg.  a  chev.  engr.  sa.  betw.  three  mullets 

pierced  gu. 
Francey.     Arg.  a  chev.  betw.  three  mullets  sa. 
Frances.     Robert,  of  Stane,  Parish  of  Irvine,  Ayrshire, 

Scotland.     A  mascle  betw.  three  stars. 
Franceis.     Erm.  on  a  canton  sa.  a  harp  arg. 

Crest.     A  hand  issuing  from  a  cloud,  seizing  a 

stag  by  the  horns,  ppr. 
Francis.     Sir  John,  Lord  Mayor  of  London  in    1400. 

Erm.  on  a  canton  sa.  a  harp  arg. 
Frances.     Erm.  on  a  canton  sa.  a  harp  arg.  stringed  or. 
Franceys  of  Co.  Derby.     Erm.  on  a  canton  sa.  a  harp 

or. 


FRANCE. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRANCE.  83 


VARIOUS   CHARGES. 

France  of  Scotland.  Vert,  a  saltire  arg.  on  a  chief  of 
three  fleurs-de-lis  az. 

Crest.     Out  of  a  mount  an  oak  tree  fructed  ppr. 

France  of  Bostock  Hall,  Co.  Chester.  Arg.  on  a  mount 
in  base  a  hurst  ppr.  on  a  chief  wavy  az.  three  fleurs- 
de-lis  or. 

Crest.  A  mount,  thereon  a  hurst,  as  in  the  arms, 
from  the  centre  tree  a  shield  pendant  gu.  charged 
with  a  fleur-de-lis  or,  strap  az. 

France,  Thomas  of  Bostock  Hall,  Cheshire.  Arg.  a 
clump  of  trees  ppr.  in  the  centre  of  the  branches 
a  fleur-de-lis  or,  on  a  chief  wavy  az.  three  fleurs- 
de-lis  of  the  third. 


FRENE. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRENE.  87 


VARIOUS    CHARGES. 

Frenes  of  Herefordshire.  Gu.  two  bendlets  indented  or. 

Frenes,  Sire  Walter  de,  Co.  Hereford.  Gu.  two  bend- 
lets  per  bend  indented  or  and  az.  counterchanged. 

Frenes,  Sire  Hugo  de,  Co.  Hereford.  Gu.  two  bend- 
lets  per  bend  indented  arg.  and  az.  counterchanged. 

Frene.     Gu.  two  bendlets  vair. 

Frene.     Az.  two  bendlets  engr.  arg. 

Frenes,  Sir  Hugh  de.  Per  bend  az.  and  arg.  two  bend- 
lets engr.  counterchanged. 

Freynes.  Az.  three  bendlets  embattled  counterem- 
battled  or. 

Frene.     Co.  Hertford.     Bendy  of  six  az.  and  arg. 

Frenes.     Co.  Hertford.     Bendy  of  six  az.  and  or. 

Frenes,  Sir  Walter,  Co.  Hereford.  Bendy  of  six  or 
and  gu. 

Freine.     Gu.  a  fess  indented,  point  in  point  arg.  and  az. 

Freine.  Gu.  two  bars  per  fess  indented,  point  in  point 
or  and  az. 

Freyne,  Rauf.  Gu.  two  bars  per  fess  indented  az. 
and  or. 

Frene,  Hue  de.  Gu.  two  bars  per  fess  indented  arg. 
and  az. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.—  FRENE.  89 

Freine.     Gu.  two  bars  vair. 

Frene.     Gu.  three  bars  vaire  arg.  and  sa. 

Frenye  or  Freyne.  Erm.  two  bars  gu.  in  chief  a  lion 
ramp,  of  the  second. 

Frenye.  Erm.  four  bars  gu.  in  chief  a  lion  ramp,  of 
the  second.     This  coat  also  given  with  a  demi-lion. 

Fraynes  of  Ireland.  Erm.  two  bars  gu.  in  chief  a 
demi-lion  ramp,  issuant  from  the  last,  armed  and 
langued  az. 

Freyne.  Erm.  two  bars  gemelles  gu.  in  chief  a  demi- 
lion  ramp,  issuant  of  the  last. 

Freine.  Barry  of  six  erm.  and  gu.  on  a  chief  of  the 
second  a  buck's  head  or. 

Frigne,  Sir  Faulke.     Vert  a  saltire  or. 

Frene  of  Nene  Sollers,  Shropshire  and  Bower,  Wor- 
cestershire, temp.  Edward  III.  Or  a  lion  ramp, 
gu.  within  a  bordure  engl.  sa. 

Freny  or  Frenny.  Borford,  Co.  Stafford.  Or  a  fleur- 
de-lis  sa. 

Frenney  of  Ireland.  Or  a  fleur-de-lis  gu.  within  a 
bordure  of  the  last. 

Freisnes.     Az.  a  cross  arg.  betw.  twelve  fleurs-de-lis  or. 


FOREIGN   ARMORIAL. 

FRANC. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRANC. 


93 


VARIOUS   CHARGES, 

Le  Franc  of  Artois.  Vert  a  bend  arg.  Francoise  de 
Gresillemont,  widow  of  Antoine  Le  Francois,  sieur 
de  Caurell,  Montdidier  in  Picardie,  in  the  18th 
century  bore  Vert,  on  a  bend  arg.  an  annulet 
sable. 

Franc  d'Anglure.  Az.  three  bends  sinister  arg.  (Fr. 
barres,  in  breadth  more  like  the  English  scarpes) 
surmounted  by  a  bend  gu. 

De  Francs  of  Maconnois.  Az.  a  tierce  arg.  in  bend 
sinister  enhanced  on  the  dexter  chief  side  ;  over  all 
a  cotise  of  the  second  (the  latter  given  as  a  bend 
by  one  authority).  Of  this  family  were  the  lords 
of  Essertaut,  and  from  them  descended  the  lords 
of  Serrieres  and  those  of  La  Salle. 

De  Francs.  Poitou,  Touraine,  Anjou  and  Maine. 
Arg.  two  bars  (Fr.  Fasces)  az.,  and  Sa.  two  bars 
arg. 

Le  Franc.  Picardie.  Az.  a  chev.  betw.  two  stars  of 
five  points  in  chief,  and  a  hive  in  base  or. 

Francke.  Flandre.  Arg.  a  saltire  gu.  betw.  four 
leopard's  heads  of  the  last. 

Le  Franc     Cambresis.     Gu.  two  spears  in  saltire  or. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.— FRANC, 


95 


Franc.     Pays  de  Vaud.     Quarterly,     ist  and  4th  Arg. 

a  tower  gu.     2d  and  3d  Az.  four  lozenges  arg.  two 

and  two. 
Franc.     Province.     Az.   two  towers  or,  on  a  chief  of 

the  last  a  cross  treflee  gu. 
Le   Franc  of  Quercy.     Az.   a  knight  mounted  on  a 

galloping  horse,  brandishing  a  sabre,   holding  a 

shield,  all  arg.     This  family  held  in  Quercy,  the 

lordships  of  Lile,  le  Sart,  Salvagnac,  Thouron  and 

Vindrac. 
Le  Franc.      Flandre    Francaise.       Or   a    lion    ramp. 

sa. 
Du  Francq.     Picardie,  originally  Gascogne.    Arg.  three 

lions  naissant  sa.  langued  gu. 
Franck.     Pays  de  Liege.      Or  a  lion  ramp.  gu. 
Colas  de  Francs.     Orleans.     Or  a  wild  boar  passant 

sa.  under  an  oak  tree  vert,  and  on  a  mount  in  base 

of  the  second,  some  say  vert. 
Franc.     Province.     Gu.  a  fleur-de-lis  arg. 
Le  Franc,  ecuyer,  sieur  d'Argentel,  generalite  d'Alen- 

con  in  Normandie.     Arg.  three  hearts  gu. 
Le  Franc,  ecuyer,  sieur  de  la  Haye,  Normandie.     Arg. 

a  fess  az.  betw.  three  hearts  gu. 
De  Neuchezes    Des  Francs.      (Reuerend  Euesque  de 

Chalons.)     Gu.  nine  mullets  arg.  three,  three,  and 

three. 
Francque.     Hainaut.      Gu.  a  lion  ramp,  or  armed  and 

langued  az.  surmounted  by  a  bend  vair. 
Franqueville.     Normandie.     Gu.  a  chief  or. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.—  FRANC.  97 

Francon.     Dauphine.     Az.   a  chev.   arg.  betw.    three 

sheaves  or. 
Franchi.     Genoa.     Or  a  raven  sa. 
Franchet  de  la  Touche.     Bretagne.     Az.  a  lion  ramp. 

or,  langued  gu. 

Another.      Az.  five  fusils  conjoined  in  fess  or 

betw.  eight  bezants. 
Franchet.     Franch-Comte.     Az.  a  horse's  head  arg. 

langued  gu. 
De  Frencheville.     Bretagne.     Arg.  on  a  chev.  az.  six 

billets  pierced  or. 
Franchon.     Pays  de   Liege.     Barry   or   and   sa.   sur- 
mounted by  a  chaplet  of  leaves  vert. 
Francieres.     He  de  France.     Arg.  a  bend  sa. 
Francieres.     Franche-Comte.     Arg.  an  anchor  cross 

sa.  pierced  with  a  square. 
Fransures.     Picardie.     Arg.  a  fess  gu.  charged  with 

three  bezants.     Mathieu  de  Fransures  mentioned 

in  1157. 
Villefranche.   Bretagne.   Gu.  a  fess  betw.  three  pike's 

heads,  all  arg.  two  in  chief  and  one  in  base. 
Le  Clerc  Franconville.     Az.  a  chev.  arg.  betw.  three 

roses  gu.  centres  or. 
Lanfranci    or    Lanfranchy.     Pise,  Anvers.     Party  per 

fess  gu.  and  arg. 
Lanfranco.     Venise.     Gu.  an  eagle  arg.  beaked  and 

membered  sa. 


FRANCE. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.—  FRANCE.  iqi 


VARIOUS    CHARGES. 

France.  Bretagne,  He  de  France.  Barry  arg.  and  az. 
the  bars  arg.  charged  with  six  fleurs-de-lis  gu., 
three,  two  and  one. 

De  France  de  Noyelles.    Artois.    Bore  the  above  coat. 

De  France  de  Treghy.  Flandre,  Francaise.  Barry  pily 
or  and  vert. 

De  France.     Hainaut.     Sa.  a  cross  or. 

De  France.     Cambresis.     Az.  three  crosses  or. 

De  France  de  Mandouls.  Toulouse.  Quarterly,  ist 
and  4th  Az.  a  tower  or,  surmounted  by  a  spear's 
head  arg.,  with  open  windows  and  door  sa.  2d 
and  3d.  Gu.  a  lion  ramp.  arg. :  also  given  Arg.  a 
lion  ramp.  gu. 

De  France.  Lorraine.  Gu.  a  lion  ramp,  or  holding 
a  fleur-de-lis  arg. 

De  France  de  Landal,  lord  of  Landal,  Bretagne,  of  the 
same  family  as  De  Noyelle.  Arg.  three  fleurs-de- 
lis  gu.  Guislain  de  France,  homme  d'armes  des 
ordonnance  du  Roi  Louis  XI,  son  Jerome  de 
France  founded  the  branch  of  D'Hesecque,  son 
Raulin  de  France  the  branch  of  De  Monthier, 
established  in  Champagne. 

France.     Cambresis.     Az.  three  crescents  or. 


FRANQOIS 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRANCOIS.  105 


VARIOUS   CHARGES. 

Francois  D'O  de  Fresne  and  de  Maillebois. 

Ermine  a  chief  indented  gu. 
Francois.     Bretagne.     Arg.  a  pale  gu.  betw.  two  stars 

of  five  points  az. 
LeFrancois,    ecuyer,    sieur   de   St.  Germain-la- Plesse, 

etc.,  election  de  Pont  l'Eveque,  Normandie.    Arg. 

two  pales  sa.  a  chief  gu.     (Fr.  pals,   smaller  than 

our  pale,  more  like  the  pallets). 
LeFrancois.     Normandie.     Arg.  five  vergettes  az.  (a 

diminutive  of  a  pale,  in  size  between  a  pallet  and 

endorse.) 
LeFrancois  de  Pommiere.    Normandie.     Az.  five  ver- 
gettes arg. 
Francois.     Bugey.     Arg.    three   bars   vert.     Nicholas 

Francois  seigneur  des  Alimes,  living  in  1354. 
Francois.     Lyonnais.     Barry  arg.  and  vert. 
Francois.     Lorraine.     Gu.   a  chev.  arg.   in  chief  two 

leopard's  heads  or  in  base  a  mullet  of  the  last. 
LeFrancois.     Flandre,  Francaise.     Az.  a  cross  or. 
LeFrancois.     Tournai.     Az.  an  anchor  cross  or. 
LeFrancois   de   Sepmeries.     Artois.     Az.    an   anchor 

cross  arg.  betw.  four  stars  of  five  points  of  the  last . 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  — FRANCOIS. 


107 


LEFRAN901S,  sieur  de  Billy,  Normandie.    Gu.  on  a  cross 

arg.  betw.  four  lions  ramp,  or,  five  scallops  sa. 
LeFrancois,  sieur  de  la  Mothe,  election  de  Carentan, 

Manche,  Normandie.     Az.  a  small  cross  arg.  betw. 

three  lozenges  or  two  in  chief  and  one  in  base. 
DeFrancois.    Vivarais  and  Forez.      Az.  a  saltire  or  on 

a  chief  arg.  three  stars  of  five  points  of  the  field. 
Francois.     Brabant.     Gu.  on  a  saltire  arg.  five  hurts. 
Francois.     Province.     Gu.  five  fusils  in  saltire  arg. 
LeFrancois  de  Molleville.       Bretagne.       Quarterly 

arg.  and  vert  surmounted  by  a  stag  passant  or. 
Francois  (Comtes)  de  Neufchateau.     Lorraine.     Vert 

a  swan    arg.    in   chief  three   ears  (epis,   prob.  of 

wheat)  or. 
LeFrancois  de  la  Fruidiere.     Bretagne.      Quarterly 

or  and  az.  surmounted  by  three  cocks  in  pale  sa. 
LeFrancois  de  Manual.     Arg.  three  cocks  sa. 
DuFrancois.     Savoie  and  He  de  France.     Or   a  fleur- 
de-lis  sa. 
LeFrancois,  ecuyer,  sieur  des  Manois  and  La  Chesnaye , 

Normandie.     Az.  three  swans  arg. 
Francois.     Artois.     Arg.  a  bunch  of  grapes  vert. 


FRENE. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRENE.  1 1  r 


VARIOUS   CHARGES. 

DuFrene.     Or  an  ash  tree  vert. 

Frain.     Comtes  de  la  Villegontier,  Bretagne.     Az.  a 

chev.  arg.  betw.  two  ox's  heads  or  in  chief  and  a 

cross  of  the  last  in  base. 
Frain.     Anjou,  Maine.     Az.  three  garbs  or. 
DuFresne,  ecuyer,  sieur  du  Bois,  election  de  Bayeux, 

Normandie.       Vert  a  chief  dancette  or  charged 

with  three  torteaux. 
DuFresne,  ecuyer,  seigneur  de  la  Rouilliere,  election 

d'Argentan,    Normandie.     Az.   a   fess  arg.   betw. 

three  horseshoes  traversed  or. 
DuFresne  de  Virel.     Bretagne   and  Maine.     Arg.  a 

fess  vert  betw.  three  ash  leaves  of  the  last. 
DuFresne,  sieur  de  la  Vallee,    election    d'Avranches, 

Normandie.     Arg.  a  lion  ramp.  gu.  armed,  langued 

and  crowned  or. 
DuFresne.     Normandie.     Or  a  lion  ramp.  gu. 
Fresnes.     Artois.     Arg.  a  lion  ramp.  sa. 
DuFresne.    Artois  and  Champagne.    Arg.  a  lion  ramp. 

sa.  within  a  bordure  embattled  of  the  last. 
DuFresne  de  Kerlan.     Bretagne.      Or  an  ash   tree 

erased  vert. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRENE.  113 

DuFresne.     Picardie.     Bore  the  above  coat. 
DuFresne.     Normandie.      Gu.  three  roundles  ermine 

two  and  one. 
DuFresne,  Baron  de  FEmpire,  France.     Arg.  achev. 

gu.  betw.  three  stars  of  five  points  az. 
Fresne  le  Chatel.     French-Comte.     Arg.  a  fess  gu. 

betw.  six  ash  leaves  sa. 
DuFraisne.     Bendy  arg.  and  gu. 
Fresnay.     Bretagne.     Vair  of  four  traits. 
Fresnay.     Artois.     Arg.  a  lion  ramp  sa. 
DuFresnay.     Barons  du  Faouet.     Bretagne.     Vair  of 

four  traits,  a  crescent  gu. 
De  la  Fresnaye.     Paris.     Gu.  a  pale  arg.  betw.  six  ash 

trees  or. 
De  la  Fresnaye,  ecuyer,  sieur  de  St.  Aigan  (Aignan) 

generalite  de  Caen,  Normandie.     Gu.   three   ash 

trees  or. 
Fresnaye,  Vicomte  de  la,  Bretagne.     Arg.  three  ash 

branches  vert. 
LaFresnaye.     Anjou.     Arg.  two  bars  gu.  with  an  orle 

of  eight  martlets  of  the  last,  three  in  chief,  two 

in  fess,  and  three  in  base. 
Fresnais  de  Levin.    Bretagne.    Or  three  ash  branches 

vert. 
DeFresneis.     Az.  three  bends  (Fr.  bandes),  or,  on   a 

chief  of  the  first  a  lion  issuant  of  the  second. 
DeFresnoy.     Bretagne.     Vair  of  four  traits. 
De  la  Fresnoye.     Arg.   a  chev.  betw.   three  martlets 

sa.  two  and  one. 


INDEX  ARMORIAL.  —  FRENE. 


115 


Fresnoye  de  Landrethun.     Boutonnois  and  Picardie. 

Or  an  anchor  cross  gu. 
Fresnoy.     Artois.     Arg.  a  cross  az.  on  the  first  quarter 

or,  a  star  of  five  points  of  the  second. 
DuFresnoy.     Picardie.     Or  a  saltire  sa. 
DuFresnoy.     Bertin,  He  de  France.     Or  on  a  saltire 

sa.  five  billets  arg. 
Fresnoy.     Artois.     Arg.  a  lion  ramp.  sa. 
DuFresnoy  de  Thun.     Tournaisis.     Arg.  on  a  fess  gu. 

three  leopard's  heads  or. 
DuFresnoy  sur  Ferrieres.     France.      Ermine  a  fess 

gu.  betw.  three  horse  shoes  or. 
Fresnois.     Franche-Comte.     Gu.  a  lion  ramp.  arg. 
Fresnel.     Lorraine.     Az.    a  pale  arg.     Another,    Az. 

three  bends  arg.  (Fr.  bandes,  more  like  the  Eng- 
lish bendlets),  on  a  chief  of  the  first,  a  lion  ramp. 

issuant  or. 
Fresnel.     Normandie.     Gu.  seven  bezants,  two,  three 

and  two. 
Fresnoy.     He  de  France.     Ermine  a  lion  ramp.  gu. 
Frasnay.     Nivernais.     Az.  three  pales  arg.     (Fr.  pals, 

more  like  the  English  pallets. 
Franay.     Bourgogne.     Bore  the  above  coat. 
Frasnay.     Nivernais.     Paly  arg.  and  az. 
Frasne.     Franche-Comte.     Per  fess  or  and  az. 
DuFraisne.     France.     Bendy  arg.  and  gu. 
Lisle  Fresne.     Gu.  a  chief  arg. 


r 


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